LIHU‘E — State Sen. Gary Hooser, D-Kaua‘i-Ni‘ihau, championed the civil-union legislation in the Senate.
State Rep. Mina Morita, D-14th District, was one of 32 to introduce the legislation that passed in the House and Senate.
State Reps. Roland Sagum, D-16th District, and James Tokioka, D-15th District, were among 20 members of the House to vote against the legislation that awaits its fate on the desk of Gov. Linda Lingle.
Lingle has until July 6 to sign, veto or allow the bill to become law without her signature. There are 249 other pieces of legislation passed by the state Legislature this year also awaiting her disposition. (See sidebar.)
Many for and against the bill that would give same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as married couples have been contacting Lingle’s office with their thoughts on the matter, a spokesman for the governor said. But Lingle’s intent remains unclear.
House Bill 444 was thought to be dead for the session, which ended last week, but was revived on the last day after it had passed the Senate.
Hooser said Monday that he knew there might be efforts to revive the legislation before the Legislature’s adjournment Thursday, but “I didn’t know it was going to pass.”
He fought for its passage in the Senate for years.
“I think treating people equally is a fundamental value,” he said, adding that he hopes Lingle will feel the same way and approve the legislation.
Hooser said he hopes Lingle “realizes that equal treatment under the law” means just that, “and she will let it become law.”
Morita and Sagum did not return calls seeking comment on the measure by press time.
Tokioka said state law indicates that marriage is valid only between a man and a woman, and his constituents in surveys, phone calls, e-mails and face-to-face meetings overwhelmingly opposed the civil-union legislation.
“I voted ‘no’ every single time that the issue came up,” he said, in response to the will of his constituents.
“I totally respect those in favor of the bill,” he added.
“As a Christian I have my own personal beliefs and opinions but as the representative from District 15 it isn’t about how I feel but about me representing our district,” he said Monday.
In addition to polling constituents via U.S. mail, Tokioka also sent out e-mails to constituents that read in part: “I hope you know that this issue was very difficult for me and I believe many others to make.
“Again the concern from many is about ‘marriage’ — an issue that, if the Supreme Courts should ever opine, would make it clear what the separation of church and state actually means in regards to ‘marriage.’
“Until then Hawaii Revised Statutes clearly spells out the issue of marriage being between one man and one woman. Having said that, it does not in any way infer that I do not care about or have compassion for our gay and lesbian couples.
“One of the reasons I support putting this vote directly to the people is that it would allow those who support civil unions to do so without stating so publicly and would eliminate the fear of retribution,” Tokioka wrote in his e-mail to constituents.
Earlier, Equality Hawai‘i, the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil-rights organization, and the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT civil-rights organization, in a press release applauded the House for passing HB444 by a 31-20 vote.
The bill provides that equal rights and responsibilities of married couples in Hawai‘i be afforded to thousands of non-married couples in the state — including same-sex couples.
“Equality Hawai‘i is proud of the actions taken by the fair-minded majority in the Hawai‘i state House to pass HB444,” said Alan Spector, legislative affairs co-chair for Equality Hawai‘i.
“This bold declaration that all of Hawai‘i’s families should be treated equally under the law is commendable and long overdue. We thank all those who have worked long and hard in this struggle for equality and urge Governor Lingle to immediately sign this bill into law.”
Earlier this year, in a move chided by supporters and opponents alike, House Speaker Calvin Say pushed through a motion to indefinitely postpone the bill, the Equality Hawai‘i release states.
The final vote in the House came after supporters passed a motion to suspend the rules, allowing for a simple majority vote to consider the legislation.
Without suspension of the rules, bill supporters would have needed a two-thirds majority vote to consider the legislation.
“The Human Rights Campaign congratulates the Hawai‘i House of Representatives for recognizing that all families in Hawai‘i need the same protections,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign.
“We have been a partner with advocates for equality in the Aloha State for decades and today we celebrate this victory with them. We strongly urge Governor Lingle to sign this bill into law to protect all Hawai‘i’s families.”
The Human Rights Campaign has worked closely with Equality Hawai‘i since 2008 to build both public and legislative support for HB444, the release states.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
