Hawaii Majorly Disappoints on Civil Unions

The state that was the very first to enter into the battle over legalizing same-sex marriage in the late 1990s proved to be a huge disappointment once again last night when Governor Linda Lingle, after months of hesitation, vetoed a bill that would legalize same-sex civil unions.

We aren't even talking marriage this time. Here's a quick history. The state broke new ground the first time around, when the Hawaiian Supreme Court ruled the law limiting marriage to same-sex couples to be unconstitutional in accordance with the state's Equal Rights Amendment. But in 1998, after a hard struggle, Hawaii voters amended their constitution to ban same-sex marriage. The next year, citing the amendment, the Hawaiian Supreme Court abandoned the pending case challenging the marriage laws. This wasn't a totally surprising loss, considering the newness of the issue and the general political climate. Hawaii advocates were perhaps ahead of their time. But today, the fact that Hawaii can't even get a civil unions law off the ground is surprising.

So what gives, Governor Lingle?

Here's what she had to say for herself at a recent news conference:

“There has not been a bill I have contemplated more or an issue I have thought more deeply about during my eight years as governor than House Bill 444 and the institution of marriage…I have been open and consistent in my opposition to same-sex marriage, and find that House Bill 444 is essentially same sex marriage by another name.”

I suppose there's something to be said for consistency, but her veto is still a slap in the face for LGBT Hawaiians and for everyone who supports progressive members of the Hawaiian legislature, which voted 31-20 in favor of the civil unions bill all the way back in April.

House leaders have indicated in interviews that they don't intend to override her decision, so it looks like the battle is over for now. My heart goes out to Hawaiians whose relationships remain unrecognized, and I urge them to demonstrate their discontent with Governor Lingle and rally support for future change.

Paul Richards is a staff writer for Campus Progress. He attends the University of Pennsylvania.