Date: Wed, 22 Feb 95 18:34:18 HST From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu HAWAII, FEB. 22 This last Monday (Feb. 20), two Honolulu fundamentalists put large ads in both of Honolulu's daily newspapers, ads which called for a constitu- tional ban on same-gender marriage and opposed domestic partnerships. I have appended to full text of the ad for those of you interested in doing a deconstructive or psychoanalytic analysis (I personally find the charge that gays are interested in bigamy a rather curious projection). Please do not read the appended ad, if you have a weak stomach for this sort of vile stream-of-consciousness. The ad itself was the focus of an article by Linda Hosek of the Star-Bulletin (the afternoon daily in Honolulu), which ran in the SAME issue as the ad. I've appended Linda Hosek's article first, because she describes some of the political cross-currents. HERMP's political assessment is that most of what you read below is shadow-boxing. The legislature will seriously consider domestic partnerships only AFTER we win a full victory in the courts. If, however, the radical right succeeds in forcing legislators to deal with same-sex marriage now, it will probably cause them to pass domestic partnerships. HERMP does not directly respond to McGivern-type ads. First, we don't have the money and second, it's dumb. Even if we had the money, there many ways to be much more effective. This sensible quiet on our part (much appreciated in a state where harmony is a cultural ideal) is rather hard for some of our supporters to endure. Note the value put on harmony in the statements of Rey Graulty which are quoted in the article below. Aloha! Tom Ramsey Secretary, HERMP Steering Committee P.S. We need funds. Donations are tax-deductible and can be made HERMP/GLCC, 1820 University Ave., Honolulu, HI 96822. Same-sex marriage is targeted by ad By Linda Hosek Star-Bulletin A $1,660 ad running today in both newspapers calls on state lawmakers to support a constitutional amendment to allow only a man and a woman to marry. The ad, which evokes biblical imagery of doom if same-sex couples every marry in the state, was paid for by the Catholic businessman and the Christian minister who filed a lawsuit to stop the commission to study same-sex marriage. [The commission was more broadly defined---TR] Daniel McGivern and the Rev. Harold Headrick submitted the ad, rhetorically asking: "Do you want to bring God's wrath down on our Hawaiian islands?" McGivern, president of McGivern Mass Marketing Inc., said they paid for the ad to warn lawmakers about the financial, legal and societal dangers of domestic partnerships, which could be the recommendation of a same-sex commission. He said a partnership law could cost millions for the state and would assist the same-sex marriage fight in the courts. The state Supreme Court two years ago ruled that it is unconstitutional to ban same-sex marriages unless the state can show compelling reasons why it shouldn't occur. McGivern and Headrick, pastor of Honolulu Assembly of God, also cast doubt on whether the state attorney general's office could stop the courts from allowing same-sex marriages. Deputy Attorney General Steven Michaels said the state has sound reasons to support the constitutionality of the existing law, which limits marriage to heterosexual couples. "We are defending the statute without appealing to homophobic prejudices," he said. "I think we can win." [I wish the lack of prejudice were true about the state's arguments! The prejudice is truly unconscious, in the case of Steven Michaels.---TR] Michaels also disagreed with McGivern over the impact of a domestic partnership bill on the same-sex marriage suit. "There would be a certain benefit to (same-sex couples), but it would undercut their legal argument," he said. "It's a two-edged sword." Dan Foley, attorney for the three same-sex couples who sued the state for the right to marry, said the state has long pointed to domestic partnerships as an aid [in the state's case against same-sex marriage---TR.] Such partnerships whould enable the state to say discrimination against same-sex couples no longer exists---not lay the groundwork for legal same-sex unions. "McGivern is just dead wrong," Foley said. [A modern conundrum! Should I believe our own attorney when he offers public legal advice to the opposing side?---TR] House and Senate judiciary committee chairmen said they support domestic partnerships to some degree and they probably would not hear bills for constitutional amendments to limit marriage to heterosexual couples. "I am on the record against any amendment," said House Judiciary Chairman Terrance Tom (D, Kahaluu-Kaneohe). Senate Judiciary Chairman Rey Graulty, (D, Moanalua-Salt Lake), said a Colorado constitutional amendment limiting homosexual rights was struck down by the courts. "It didn't solve the problem in Colorado and it polarizes the community for no good reason." [What will Rey say after the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the Colorado case?---TR] Gov. Ben Cayetano also supports domestic partnerships for same-sex couples and opposite sex couples. END OF HOSEK'S ARTICLE THE MCGIVERN/HEADRICK AD AN OPEN LETTER TO EVERY LEGISLATOR AND THE PUBLIC! Do you care if Hawaii becomes known as the Sodom and Gomorrah of the world, a paradise for homosexuals who wish to marry? Do you want to bring God's wrath down on our Hawaiian islands? This legislative session is your only chance to stand up and support a constitutional amendment to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman as husband and wife. Read on, for we'll give you some good reasons to support it. First, if you don't support a constitutional amendment, it may be all over! For, if a domestic partnership bill becomes law, it would give the plaintiffs in the same sex marriage case the greatest, valid legal arguments to win the pending court case. Extending domestic partnerships is not a carrot to homosexuals and lesbians. It's the greatest gift, as it clearly establishes legal grounds to win a same sex marriage case in Hawaii. It's not one or the other. If you do nothing this session, you will have left the State Attorney General's office in the position of coming up with compelling state interests in court to prevent same sex marriage. This is the same Attorney General's office we beat twice recently in federal court---and we were supposed to be a pushover! [These two fundamentalists got the federal court to kick the Catholic and Mormon representatives off a state commission to study sexual orientation and the law, arguing separation of church and state---TR] As you know, each state currently recognizes the marriages and divorces of every other state. Child support laws are recognized, too. [This is not entirely correct---TR] But, half of our states have laws against sodomy. They'll never recognize same sex marriages, even if it means their states recognize NO marriages from Hawaii. Yes, this is being talked about and one national conservative organization is already working on contacting all attorney generals in the United States. [What national organization? This scare argument, that Hawaii's hetersexual marriages won't be recognized by other states, was first raised by a prior State Attorney General. May it redound to his eternal shame---TR] Will these states recognize any of our state's marriages---even heterosexual marriages---if they cannot discriminate against homosexual and lesbian marriages? Normal heterosexual couples married here who move to the mainland may find their marriages not recognized. ["Mainland" is the local term for the other 49 states---TR] And half the states---or more---would be so ticked with Hawaii, you could kiss those tourists goodbye! [HERMP has been very careful to avoid boycott language---it's clearly a no-win. Again, the RRR is trying to raise fear levels. We simply point out privately that San Francisco has more tourists than Hawaii. Key West anyone? ---TR] They'd do nothing to help promote Hawaii. And what about the school children right here in Hawaii? Are they to be taught in public elementary schools that when they grow up they can choose to form a family of a daddy and a mommy, or two mommies, or two daddies? Is that what is meant by an education second to none? It's no joke! Do you want our youth corrupted at the earliest ages? [More fear buttons being pushed. Is it an accident that mommies rhymes with commies?--- TR] This is not a matter of civil rights. It never has been. No one has a right to do what is evil or wrong. Who has a civil right to push a perversion of sexuality on society? Who has a right to engage in abnormal sexual relations, and then ask all society to bless and protect it? And set up the youth to indoctrinate them early? Did you ever hear the expression "Sex at Eight---Before It's Too Late?" Yes, it's no secret that some homosexuals want all age of consent laws removed from the law books. If a law protects homosexuals and lesbians in domestic partnerships or marriage, it protects them in many other ways. No comments could be made in the schools against that lifestyles [sic]. And why, if same sex marriage is approved, should homosexuals be limited to just one marriage partner? Down with the bigamy laws, for they restrict their civil rights, too! And why should two homosexual men have to divorce to end a marriage? Down with divorce laws that impinge on civil rights, too! Just marry someone else, because bigamy would be allowed. It never ends. You can't compromise with evil---it just leads to more evil. No one gives a constitutional amendment much of a chance now, but we still believe in miracles. How about it Senators and Representatives? Think---deeply---before you act. Moreover, a constitutional amendment will cost the taxpayers virtually nothing, compared to, perhaps, over $100 million in costs for domestic partnership alone. Both California and Washington, although they have city domestic partnership laws, turned their backs on it for the entire state. One Washington state senator said costs to that state would have been in excess of $100,000,000 for domestic partnership. DON'T WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY WOES IN HAWAII? THANK YOU FOR READING THIS. THE PEACE OF CHRIST BE WITH YOU! SINCERELY, Daniel P. McGivern, President, McGivern Mass Marketing, Inc. Rev. Harold Headrick, Pastor Honolulu Assembly of God We were the successful plaintiffs, led by our able attorney who prevailed in have the U.S. District Court remove four members on the Commission on Sexual Orientation and the Law. That crippled the commission and led to its demise in the current legislative session. We do know what we are talking about---and we are up on the law!! END OF MCGIVERN/HEADRICK AD