While to some the future of HB 444 for Civil Unions looks bleak, don’t tell that to the thousands of equality activists on the ground in Hawai’i. Technically there still is time to pull HB 444 from the Senate Judiciary Committee (that is deadlocked at 3-3) and get the bill on the Senate floor. It’s already passed the House 33-17!
Once HB 444 is on the Senate floor, 18 of the 25 senators have pledged to vote for it. BUT getting it on the floor has been difficult. It takes 9 votes to get it out of a deadlocked committee. In a brave move on March 25th, Sen. Gary Hooser tried to get the 9 votes. He got only 5 in addition to his own. The honor roll of bravery for equality: Sens. Les Ihara, Michelle Kidani, Rosalyn Baker, Suzanne Chun Oakland, Carol Fukunaga and Gary Hooser.
Please click on over to Courting Equality with the link above and read up on the rest of her report. GLBT people, it's high time we started answering to call of our fellow GLBT community members in need. It's time to cross over state lines and help our friends in the same way the opposition is helping their allies. Hawai'i might be far away, but your telephone and computer are not.
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