• Marriage solution Marriage solution The national policy for same-sex marriage could be developed similar to Hawai‘i’s own “aloha” solution. While we soundly defeated attempts to legalize same-sex marriage/domestic partnerships/civil unions, we wanted to encourage compassionate behavior amongst people. We
• Marriage solution
Marriage solution
The national policy for same-sex marriage could be developed similar to Hawai‘i’s own “aloha” solution.
While we soundly defeated attempts to legalize same-sex marriage/domestic partnerships/civil unions, we wanted to encourage compassionate behavior amongst people. We solved this dilemma by passing the Reciprocal Beneficiaries Law (1997). It confers many of the benefits provided married couples to unmarried individuals who are committed to caring for and taking care of each other.
The difference is that the law is for everyone; not just homosexual couples or unmarried heterosexual couples. For example, a widowed mother and her adult son, two siblings, other relatives, or two unrelated individuals committed to caring for each other can declare a reciprocal beneficiary relationship in Hawai‘i. Any committed couple whether related by blood or not gets equal rights and benefits such as hospital visitation, health care decision-making, inheritance, etc. Revising federal laws and related provisions to confer rights granted married couples to reciprocal relationships should satisfy proponents of same-sex marriage.
This “aloha solution” encourages people to take care of and look out for each other. It also achieves the compassionate aims of most Americans without undermining the institution of marriage or giving social approval to homosexual behavior or relationships.
Paul Dunlap
Kailua, O‘ahu
