Date: Wed, 24 Jan 96 07:36:41 HST From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey) Subject: HAWAII, JAN. 24 HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE KILLS DP AND ALL FRIENDLY BILLS, "DEFERS" VOTES ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO BAN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE The House Judiciary Committee of the Hawaii Legislature met from 2pm to about 9pm yesterday on the subject of same-gender marriage. By large majorities, with 2, 3 or 0 dissenters, they killed the DP bill, the bill to legalize marriage, and a third bill to extend the definition of marriage. Chairman Terrance Tom reiterated that he does not support any constitutional amendments "at this time" to ban same-gender marriage and deferred the votes on three amendments to ban same-gender marriage. The Commission on Sexual Orientation and the Law was criticized strongly by Terrance Tom and Billy Swain, for not studying domestic partnerships in sufficient depth [and for recommending marriage]. Sufficient depth seems to mean to them predicting the impossible-to-predict: what would be the economic impact? I think the Commission fully realized that one could never predict, let alone know even after-the-fact, the economic impact. The Commission rightly focused on legal issues of equal protection and civil rights. This constant search for more information is a smoke-screen for doing nothing. Two years ago, Terrance handled the constitutional amendments in a similar manner. At that time, the deferred votes were never taken. I think the actions of the House Judiciary Committee, in an election year, point out the failings of the domestic partnership strategy. IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO GET LEGISLATURES TO ACT TO PROTECT GAY MEN AND LESBIANS FROM DISCRIMINATION; IT IS MUCH EASIER TO STOP THINGS THAN TO PASS THINGS. Tom Ramsey Co-Coordinator Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project P.S. The Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project, HERMP, is the sole support of the work of Dan Foley on Baehr v. Lewin (Foley is the attorney who makes all court appearances on behalf of the plaintiff couples). Please be generous in support of HERMP; Hawaii is a small state, and the tiny gay and lesbian community here is very active in advocacy work which HERMP cannot address. Donations to HERMP are fully tax-deductible, and should be made out to GLCC-HERMP, 1521 Alexander Street, #503 , Honolulu, HI 96822. The HERMP branch in Kona, on the Big Island, has produced a T-shirt for sale. One can send a check for $17.50 to HERMP, P.O.Box 902, Captain Cook, HI 96704, together with a note about being sent a T-shirt (S, M, L, XL, XXL). It is also available in a tank top. The design is multi-color on white. A large triangle points down, with the letters h.e.r.m.p above the triangle, some male-male, female-female symbols in the border of the triangle and some palm trees. To place an email order for T-shirts, or to obtain more information, please email skippero@aol.com Thank you! Date: Wed, 24 Jan 96 16:37:17 HST From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey) Subject: HAWAII, JAN. 24 HAWAII SUPREME COURT REBUFFS THE MORMONS AND REAFFIRMS THE RIGHT OF RELIGIONS TO DISCRIMINATE From: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (afternoon daily) Wed., Jan. 24, page A-6 By: Linda Hosek "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not have a right to intervene in the upcoming same-sex marriage trial, according to the state Supreme Court. "Mormons appealed to the high court in April to allow them to participate in the trial, saying the state could not adequately represent their interest." [In the upcoming trial in July, the state will argue against same-sex marriage.] "They argued that they opposed same-sex marriage and could lose their state license to perform any marriage if they refused to perform same-sex ones. "But Justice Paula Nakayama, writing for the court, said the law does not require ministers of any religious denomination to solemnize marriages that don't conform to their customs." The article then continues with a quote from Dan Foley's law partner, Earle Partington: "It reaffirms a long-standing American rule that no ministers of any church can be compelled to perform marriages that they don't want to." "Steven Michaels, first deputy attorney general, said the state, which will argue against same-sex marriage, was pleased with the opinion." Michaels is then quoted as saying that Mormon intervention would make the state's case more difficult. Nakayama based her opinion on the First Amendment freedom-of- religion clause. Hopefully, this puts to rest one of the public relations tactics of the Mormons, that they might be forced to perform same-sex marriage. This claim was always without merit because, among heterosexuals, divorce is state-recognized but often not accepted by the Catholic church. No one forces the Catholic church to marry people who have been divorced, even though the divorces are legal realities. Tom Ramsey Co-Coordinator Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project P.S. The Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project, HERMP, is the sole support of the work of Dan Foley on Baehr v. Lewin (Foley is the attorney who makes all court appearances on behalf of the plaintiff couples). Please be generous in support of HERMP; Hawaii is a small state, and the tiny gay and lesbian community here is very active in advocacy work which HERMP cannot address. Donations to HERMP are fully tax-deductible, and should be made out to GLCC-HERMP, 1521 Alexander Street, #503 , Honolulu, HI 96822. The HERMP branch in Kona, on the Big Island, has produced a T-shirt for sale. One can send a check for $17.50 to HERMP, P.O.Box 902, Captain Cook, HI 96704, together with a note about being sent a T-shirt (S, M, L, XL, XXL). It is also available in a tank top. The design is multi-color on white. A large triangle points down, with the letters h.e.r.m.p above the triangle, some male-male, female-female symbols in the border of the triangle and some palm trees. To place an email order for T-shirts, or to obtain more information, please email skippero@aol.com Thank you!