Gay Marriage has been in the news again in Hawaii. As in other states, Gays in Hawaii have been fighting to get their states to pass some form of legalized Gay marriage. One of the arguments used against us is that the "vast majority" of residents oppose legalized Gay marriages. Issues of civil rights should never be left up to a vote of the majority. Back in the 60's, if individual states had been allowed to vote on civil rights for Blacks, many Blacks would not have received the rights they were entitled to. So regardless of how the vast majority feels, there must be a way of providing committed, loving, Gay couples with benefits currently only now accorded to heterosexual couples. Rights of survivorship, spousal medical and life insurance benefits, etc. Many Gay couples are in loving, monogamous relationships. Royand I have been together for over 28 years. This is longer than many straight, married relationships. Yes, not all Gays remain in a long term, committed relationship. But the same can be said for heterosexual couples. Civil Unions In Hawaii
Another argument is that Gay marriages would "normalize homosexuality". I can only point out that homosexual behavior already is perfectly normal and natural for homosexuals. As a Gay person, it would be both abnormal and unnatural for me to take part in heterosexual behavior and activities.
Of course the biggest argument is that homosexuality is a matter of choice. Something you can turn on and turn off. Not only is this not true, it is not even logical. Homosexuality is not something you do in the bed. A homosexual is a person who is physically and lovingly attracted to persons of his own sex. You certainly cannot chose who you are attracted to. The only choice to be made is whether or not you chose to act on your attraction. Will you be true to yourself and live your life as you have been naturally inclined, or will you deny and hide your feelings, go against your true nature and try to live a heterosexual lifestyle.
It is time to take our minds out of the gutter. We need to stop looking at who we love and instead look at how we love. Relationships, rather homo or heterosexual, are a lot more than sex. It is love, commitment, sharing, and yes, it is sex also. These feelings are the same for everyone, Gay or straight.
Thank These Senators For Their Support
As I am sure you all have heard that we lost the motion Thursday, March 26th in a 6 – 18 decision. We need to thank the six Senators that stood up for equality and justice. So please call and e-mail each one of these senators.Baker, Rosalyn H. (D) senbaker@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6070
Chun Oakland, Suzanne (D) senchunoakland@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6130
Fukunaga, Carol (D) senfukunaga@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6890
Hooser, Gary L. (D) senhooser@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6030
Ihara, Les (D) senihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6250
Kidani, Michelle (D) senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-7100Gary made the motion to pull the bill and followed it up with a great opening speech. For that, some spineless senators attacked him on the floor of the senate. Les Ihara made the second and he was eloquent too! Rosalyn and Michelle also joined in on the great speeches. They pointed out the effects that the stalling of this bill will have on our society as a whole. So please take a couple of minutes to thank each one of them. Please let your friends know to do the same.
Lackluster Support
Also we need to let the other senators know how disappointed we are in their lack of support. The following senators have said that say they support the Civil Unions bill but failed to show that support when it came time to vote. Let these senators know we need a less mouth and a little more action!English, J. Kalani (D) senenglish@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-587-7225
Espero, Will (D) senespero@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6360
Galuteria, Brickwood (D) sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6740
Green, Josh (D) sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-9385
Hanabusa, Colleen (D) senhanabusa@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-7793
Hee, Clayton (D) senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-7330
Ige, David Y. (D) sendige@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6230
Kokubun, Russell S. (D) senkokubun@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6760
Nishihara, Clarence K. (D) sennishihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6970
Takamine, Dwight Y. (D) sentakamine@capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-7335
Taniguchi, Brian T. (D) sentaniguchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6460
Tokuda, Jill N. (D) sentokuda@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-587-7215
Tsutsui, Shan S. (D) sentsutsui@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-7344Sen. Will Espero is putting forth an amendment to the bill that would only give the gay community only 70% of the rights in the current bill. I say NO THANK YOU SEN. ESPERO! We are not second class citizens! We are FIRST CLASS citizens who come to you with our heads held high, affirming the validity of our right to seek and maintain meaningful emotional relationships, and afirming our right to participate in the life of the country on an equal basis with every other citizen"
Vote The Bigots Out
Here are the senators that are against the Civil Unions bill. Make no mistake about it, THESE PEOPLE ARE YOUR ENEMIES! We need to remember this in the voting booth. Senator Slom actually gave a hate filled speech on the floor of the senate. Shame on him and shame on any gay person who votes for him!Bunda, Robert (D) senbunda@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6090
Gabbard, Mike (D) sengabbard@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-6830
Hemmings, Fred (R) senhemmings@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-587-8388
Kim, Donna Mercado (D) senkim@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-587-7200
Sakamoto, Norman (D) sensakamoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-8585
Slom, Sam (R) senslom@Capitol.hawaii.gov - 808-586-8420
To all my gay brothers and sisters, I say the day is coming when we will have all the rights accorded any other citizen of this nation. It's a shame that a nation like the United States which contantly preaches freedom and equality could be so far behind most of the other free world. But hang in there, our day will come!Aloha,
-Loyd
A special thanks to Lambda Aloha for providing the above voting information.