Same-sex civil union bill fails in committee
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
A bill to allow same-sex civil unions in Hawai'i died in a state House committee yesterday, but feelings continued to run high on both sides of the debate because of a surviving bill that would ban housing discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Gay-rights advocates expressed dismay that the civil unions bill, HB 1024, failed to move out of the House Judiciary Committee yesterday, one day after more than 100 people packed a hearing on the bill.
Proponents were told that the committee had no quorum to vote Thursday night and no time to take a vote by yesterday's deadline, said Ken Miller, executive director of the gay-rights nonprofit called The Center.
"I would say I felt extreme disappointment that our political leaders, who should be advocating equality for all our people, basically didn't do their job," Miller said. "I interpret that as a slap in the face to the entire community."
The debate over civil unions — seen by some as a substitute or precursor to gay marriages — flared brightly if only briefly in the past week and recalled the contentious 1998 debate that ended an overwhelming vote to approve a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union of one man with one woman.
William Woods, an outspoken proponent of same-sex marriage then and civil unions now, said witnessing the long hearing Thursday only to see HB 1024 stall was "painful." However, he said his disappointment over one proposal is offset by his determination to push the housing discrimination bill toward a vote by a March 5 deadline.
"We have some legitimate time now to work with the committee, and see if people who say they support it get it passed," said Woods, executive director for the Gay and Lesbian Education and Advocacy Foundation.
House Judiciary Chairman Eric Hamakawa, D-3rd (Hilo, Kea'au, Mountain View), could not be reached for comment. Vice Chairman Blake Oshiro, D-33rd (Halawa, 'Aiea, Pearlridge), said a vote on the bill is possible by the March 5 deadline but did not know yet whether it has committee support.
The most vocal opposition on Thursday came from officials of Brigham Young University-Hawai'i, who argued that the bill should exempt religious groups that, like the university, would prohibit cohabitation by couples who aren't married.
But the housing bill and the civil unions proposal also drew opposition from people like Hau'ula resident Kevin Salts, who feel motivated to speak out publicly on few other issues.
Salts, a 39-year-old computer consultant and father of six, said the measures "cut to the heart of our traditional family values" and "cater to a tiny part of the population."
"I feel like it dilutes the sacredness of my marriage with my wife," he said. "It cheapens it and turns it into something of less value. ... I don't see why we have to change the rules to satisfy that tiny group of people."
Salts said legitimizing homosexuality would diminish the place of religion in the world, with more people choosing a secular civil union over marriage.
"Religion makes people reach beyond the world," he said. "If you take that out of society, I feel society would crumble."
On the other side is David Walter, a 48-year-old communications manager from 'Aiea who has been in a committed relationship with his partner for 23 years.
Walter described himself as enough of a realist that he didn't expect something as controversial as civil unions to win approval in an election year. He was gratified that it received a hearing at all.
"It comes at the right time, when the White House has proposed a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage," he said.
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
