Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 19:57:40 -1000 From: Mia H H Lam Subject: Attention: Civil Rights Cheerleader (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 14:31:49 -1000 From: Tracey Bennett Subject: Attention: Civil Rights Cheerleader Please read and pass along to other cheerleaders. ======== +++++++++++ ======== A MESSAGE FROM HAWAII, Ground Zero for Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights. ======== +++++++++++ ======== Some folks think that same-sex marriage is a done deal. NOT! In 55 days our civil rights could be voted away. Here's what's happening now: 1. At the court level: in 1996 Judge Chang ruled in favor of the Baehr v. Miike plaintiffs. But we can't get a license until the state supreme court rules, and we haven't heard boo. 2. We could lose the whole ball game on November 3rd because our civil rights are up for a vote. Caving in to the hue and cry of "let the people decide," the legislature put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Make no mistake: it would gut our court case. If it passes, our right to marry would crash, and with it, our hopes for full-faith-and-credit recognition of marriage in the other 49 states. The Human Rights Campaign is pitching in big time with first-class talent and expertise. We're running a top-notch campaign. Our opponents--the usual suspects--crow that 63% of voters oppose same-gender marriage, but that's not the right question! OUR May poll asked the actual ballot question: "Shall the constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to specify that the legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples?" 49% said no, 37% said yes. It's a David-beat-Goliath kind of thing. We CAN win. We're ahead now. Maintaining that lead will cost a bundle. They're loaded. We're not. So we need your help. Our rights are on the line. We win November 3rd, or we wait--maybe another 30 years--for legislators to grant us the rights we are entitled to now. It's up to you. I am asking you to help out. We don't need civil rights cheerleaders or spectators. We need you to be a CHECKBOOK ACTIVIST. Squeeze out as much as you can for this excellent cause. The group that needs it the most is Protect Our Constitution. There are no campaign contribution limits. No amount is too large or too small. Write a check right now while you're thinking about it to POC/HRC. Send it to Protect Our Constitution 870 Kapahulu Ave, #110, Honolulu, HI 96816. HRC has a web page for making a donation by credit card to Protect Our Constitution/HRC: https://www.hrc.org/joinus/hawaii.html Mahalo (thank you) from Hawaii, Tracey Bennett (808) 595-6682 "POC" (808) 739-6263. www.poc-hawaii.org