Date: Sun, 11 Feb 96 21:46:07 HST From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey) Subject: HAWAII PARTY IN SF FEB 14 FUNDRAISER FOR HERMP SAN FRANCISCO, FEBRUARY 14 Wesley Ballard and Cornelius Conboy have organized a Valentine's Day Party to celebrate the anniversary of SF's Domestic Partnership Law and to raise funds for HERMP. Eichelberger's, from 6pm -11pm, for a great Hawaiian food and entertainment. Please see the enclosed press release from Cornelius. Some additions: State Senator Milton Marks will be there and a second member of the SF's Board of Supervisors. Maggie Tanis of MCC SF, formerly of Hawaii's MCC and spokesperson for HERMP, will be there to provide the gory technical details of Baehr v. Lewin (now Baehr v. Miike) and the fight for the freedom to marry in Hawaii. Mahalo to Cornelius and Wesley! Tom Ramsey Co-coordinator, Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project Some enchanted Evening A Valentine's Luau to benefit Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project As most of us are aware the next major national gay and lesbian civil rights battle is snowballing through the courts in Hawaii. By all indications we will win the right to have marriages legally recognized in this state and then, hopefully throughout the country. The Hawaiian Equal Rights Marriage Project (H.E.R.M.P.) has been working since 1990 when three same sex couples were denied marriage licenses.They filed suit and in 1993 the Hawaiian Supreme Court ruled that their denial violated the states constitutional ban on gender discrimination and that Hawaii had to show compelling reason why it should override the equal protection statutes in the state constitution. The case will be heard again in July and the state has had no luck coming up with any arguments that w ill stand up to the 'strict scrutiny' test imposed by the supreme court. Hawaii's seven person Commission on Sexual Orientation recently filed their report which supports our rights to marriage. All indications are that the ruling will go down in our favor,clearing the way for charter flights of fags and dykes to jet over,get married, go back home and start the next round which will ultimately get to the U.S. Supreme court. While our major national organizations gear up for the big fight the important work being done by the small group of dedicated activists in the Aloha state needs our support. San Francisco Leather Daddy XIII Cornelius Conboy is proud to be able to co-present, with Wesley Ballard, SOME ENCHANTED EVENING a luau to honor our communities love and commitment and to galvanize awareness and support for this battle. Supervisor Tom Ammiano, a major force behind San Francisco's landmark Domestic Partnership law will be on hand along with some very special hula dancers. To the music of Martin Denny, Tribal drums, Don ho and classic Hawaiian slide guitar guests will be able to have themselves photographically memorialized on top of a spectacular wedding cake. We will also be featuring the exclusive premier launch of OnQ's WEB site for H.E.R.M.P., a valuable tool in this most important fight. Join us for a fun filled educational politically aware silly old night under the tropical skies and help some folks who deserve our respect and support. Next year we may be able to fly to Hawaii and get married on Valentines day. This year come down to Eichelberger's on Wednesday,Feb 14 anytime from 6-11 p.m. for a sumptuous traditional Hawaiian wedding buffet,interactive technology that is fun and really useful, pina coladas, mai tais, a roast suckling pig (and lot's of vegetarian stuff too).There will be a silent auction for your own web site and many other prizes as well as a chance to register for that first charter flight to get us married when the date is set. when we as community get behind the right fight there is an overwhelming sense of unity and power. Together we can make this happen.Your $50.00 per person contribution is tax deductible to the full extent under the law. For further information call (415) 863-4177 or E-mail EICHEL17 @ aol.com. To keep updated on H.E.R.M.P.s progress e-mail them at ramsey@hawaii.math.edu and ask to be put on their e-mail list.