Ruling supports parade organizers

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

The Family Day "Kids Parade" will proceed as planned tomorrow, but it will be without three gay and lesbian groups who went to federal court to try to prevent parade organizers from excluding them.

U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor ruled yesterday that the Hawaii Christian Coalition, and not the city, is sponsoring the parade. So Gillmor would not grant an order sought by Parents, Family, Friends of Lesbians and Gays and others that would have required parade organizers to allow members of the gay and lesbian groups to participate.

Garret Hashimoto, the Christian Coalition's state director, had threatened to cancel the parade if the judge ruled in favor of the gay and lesbian groups. Hashimoto last night said he was "delighted" with Gillmor's ruling.

"Family Day has always been for the children and shouldn't be a stage for political or social statements," Hashimoto said.

Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris also hailed the decision. "We are very pleased that the court did not allow this Kids' Day event to become a political battleground over gay and lesbian issues," he said. "The children of Hawai'i are the ultimate winners."

Brent White, the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union's Hawai'i office and lawyer for the gay and lesbian groups, said last night that the Christian Coalition "may have won a battle but not the war."

White said members and supporters of the gay and lesbian groups have planned a protest to begin at 9:30 a.m. by the Gandhi statue across from the zoo, near the end of the parade route.

White said that because Gillmor issued her ruling at about 5:15 yesterday, and because today is a federal holiday, he won't be able to appeal.

He said evidence that his office acquired after the issue was argued before Gillmor on Tuesday indicates that the city's involvement in organizing the parade was much more substantial than it was made to sound during the hearing.

But Hashimoto said Gillmor correctly concluded that the Hawaii Christian Coalition is the parade's sponsor.

He said tomorrow will mark the first time the coalition has organized a parade in conjunction with Family Day.

He said that while city officials helped answer questions about organizing the event, the coalition did all of the work and signed up more than 80 groups to participate.

"Unfortunately, a couple dropped out as a result of the controversy," Hashimoto said.

But White said that while city officials filed statements with Gillmor's office after the hearing on Tuesday saying they played a minor role in organizing the event, his office has learned the city recruited the coalition to act as sponsor.

He said the city was much more involved in putting the parade together than the officials will admit.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.