The following Representatives voted YES:

• - Rep. Della Au Belatti (D - Moiliili, Makiki, Tantalus)
• - Rep. Tom Brower (D - Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako)
• - Rep. Denny Coffman (D - Naalehu, Captain Cook, Keahou)
• - Rep. Cindy Evans (D - Kaupulehu, Waimea, Halaula)
• - Rep. Faye Hanohano (D - Hawaiian Acres, Pahoa, Kalapana)
• - Rep. Mark Hashem (D - Hahaione Valley, Aina Haina, Kahala)
• - Rep. Linda Ichiyama (D - Salt Lake, Moanalua Valley)
• - Rep. Kaniela Ing (D - South Maui)
• - Rep. Derek Kawakami (D - Hanalei, Princeville, Kapaa)
• - Rep. Bertrand Kobayashi (D - Diamond Head, Kaimuki, Kapahulu)
• - Rep. Chris Lee (D - Kailua, Lanikai, Waimanalo)
• - Rep. Nicole Lowen (D - Holualoa, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau)
• - Rep. Sylvia Luke (D - Punchbowl, Pauoa, Nuuanu)
• - Rep. Angus McKelvey (D - Lahaina, Kaanapali, Honokohau)
• - Rep. John Mizuno (D - Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley)
• - Rep. Dee Morikawa (D - Niihau, Koloa, Kokee)
• - Rep. Mark Nakashima (D - Kukuihaele, Lapahoehoe, North Hilo)
• - Rep. Scott Nishimoto (D - McCully, Moiliili, Kapahulu)
• - Rep. Takashi Ohno (Nuuanu, Liliha, Alewa Heights)
• - Rep. Richard Onishi (D - South Hilo, Keaau, Honuapo)
• - Rep. Karl Rhoads (D - Chinatown, Iwilei, Kalihi)
• - Rep. Scott Saiki (D - Downtown, Kakaako, McCully)
• - Rep. Calvin Say (D - Palolo, St. Louis Heights, Kaimuki)
• - Speaker Joseph Souki (D - Waihee, Waiehu, Wailuku)
• - Rep. Mark Takai (D - Halawa, Aiea, Newtown)
• - Rep. Gregg Takayama (D - Pearl City, Waimalu, Pacific Palisades)
• - Rep. Roy Takumi (D - Pearl City, Waipio, Pearl Harbor)
• - Rep. Cynthia Thielen (R - Kailua, Kaneohe)
• - Rep. Jessica Wooley (D - Kahaluu, Ahuimanu, Kaneohe)
• - Rep. Kyle Yamashita (D - Sprecklesville, Upcountry Maui)

The following Representatives voted NO:

• - Rep. Henry Aquino (D - Waipahu)
• - Rep. Karen Awana (D - Kalaleloa, Ko Olina, Maili)
• - Rep. Romy Cachola (D - Sand Island, Kalihi, Airport)
• - Rep. Mele Carroll (D - Hana, Molokai, Lanai)
• - Rep. Lauren Cheape Matsumoto (R - Mililani, Schofield, Kunia)
• - Rep. Ty Cullen (D - Waipahu, Royal Kunia, Makakilo)
• - Rep. Richard Fale (R - Waialua, Kahuku, Waiahole)
• - Rep. Beth Fukumoto (R - Mililani, Mililani Mauka, Waipio Acres)
• - Rep. Sharon Har (D - Kapolei, Makakilo)
• - Rep. Ken Ito (D - Kaneohe, Maunawili, Kailua)
• - Rep. Aaron Johanson (R - Fort Shafter, Moanalua Gardens, Aliamanu)
• - Rep. Jo Jordan (D - Waianae, Makaha, Makua)
• - Rep. Bob McDermott (R - Ewa Beach, Iroquois Point)
• - Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D - Wahiawa, Whitmore, Poamoho)
• - Rep. James Tokioka (D - Wailua, Hanamaulu, Lihue)
• - Rep. Clift Tsuji (D - Hilo, Waiakea, Keaukaha)
• - Rep. Gene Ward (R - Kalama Valley, Queen's Gate, Hawaii Kai)
• - Rep. Justin Woodson (D - Kahului, Wailuku, Puunene)
• - Rep. Ryan Yamane (D - Mililani, Waipio, Waikele)

The following Representatives were EXCUSED:

• - Rep. Rida Cabanilla* (D - Ewa Beach, West Loch Estates)
• - Rep. Isaac Choy (D - Manoa, Punahou, Moiliili)

* Cabanilla promised to vote YES on gay marriage in order to win committee assignment. 

  *   *   *   *   *

House Passes Marriage Redefinition Bill

From Hawaii Family Advocates November 9, 2013

After voting DOWN several amendments to further protect churches and individuals, the same sex marriage bill passed the House.  The list below is how your legislator voted:  (CLICK HERE for bill recap on the capitol website)

If you have not read the bill that may soon become law (barring any Senate changes),CLICK HERE.

19 NO VOTES: 

Aquino, Awana, Cachola, Carroll, Cullen, Fale, Fukumoto, Har, Ito, Johanson, Jordan, Matsumoto, McDermott, Oshiro, Tokioka, Tsuji, Ward, Woodson, Yamane 

30 YES VOTES:

Belatti, Brower, Coffman, Evans, Hanohano, Hashem, Ichiyama, Ing, Kawakami, Kobayashi, Lee, Lowen, Luke, McKelvey, Mizuno, Morikawa, Nakashima, Nishimoto, Ohno, Onishi, Rhoads, Saiki, Say, Souki, Takai, Takayama, Takumi, Thielen, Wooley, Yamashita

2 EXCUSED:

Cabanilla, Choy

The Senate will vote on the measure Tuesday morning.  If the bill passes, it will go to the governor for signature.  He is expected to sign the bill.  Once we have more information on the time of the Senate vote, we will let you know.

The amount of public input that rose strongly against this bill is both monumental and historic and we are strongly disappointed that this legislature ignored the overwhelming voice of the people.

Stay tuned, there is still much work to be done. 

We are counting on you to remember this vote when you and your family go to the polls in November 2014 and we will be here to help you REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER.

Jim Hochberg

President, Hawaii Family Advocates 

  *   *   *   *   *

News Release from Hawaii House of Representatives November 8, 2013

The state House of Representatives voted late Friday to pass SB1 HD1, relating to equal rights, on third reading.

The measure was approved by a vote of 30 to 19, with two members excused.

The House draft includes amendments, modeled after similar language in Connecticut law, significantly broadening exemptions for religious organizations and clergy performing solemnization.

Religious organizations and affiliated nonprofits would be exempted from having to furnish goods, services, or its facilities or grounds for the solemnization or the celebration of solemnizations if it is in violation of its religious beliefs or faith.

It also specifies that clergy and religious officers are not required to solemnize if it is against their religious beliefs or faith.

The measure also grants immunity from administrative, civil and legal liability to religious organizations and officials for the failure or refusal to provide services, goods, or facilities as described.

The issue was discussed in House committee hearings spanning five days and nearly 57 hours of public testimony. There were 5,184 registered testifiers, with over 1,000 people testifying, and nearly 24,400 written testimonies submitted.

As far as House members could recall, the public hearing on SB1 was the longest hearing on a single bill in the modern history of the Hawaii House of Representatives.

Based on concerns and issues raised during the public hearing the bill was amended to expand the religious exemptions for churches and religious organizations that do not want to solemnize same gender marriages.

The bill is now transmitted to the Hawaii State Senate for their consideration. Upon approval of the changes by the Senate, the bill will be transmitted to the governor for his signature into law.

If the Senate rejects the amendments, the bill will go into conference committee.

The Senate is scheduled to convene Tuesday, Nov. 11, to vote on the amended House bill.

Governor’s Statement

The state House of Representatives voted tonight to pass SB1 HD1 Relating to Equal Rights.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie stated:

“I commend the House of Representatives for taking this historic vote to move justice and equality forward.

“After more than 50 hours of public testimony from thousands of testifiers on both sides of the issue, evaluating dozens of amendments, and deliberating procedures through hours of floor debates, the House passed this significant bill, which directly creates a balance between marriage equity for same-sex couples and protects our First Amendment freedoms for religious organizations.

“I applaud Speaker Souki, Judiciary Chair Rhoads, Finance Chair Luke, Majority Leader Saiki and the rest of the leadership team for their patience, fairness and hard work in shepherding this bill through the House.

“I am confident that the Senate will address the bill in the same spirit. I look forward to a successful conclusion to this major step in affirming everyone’s civil rights.”

More information on the bill is available on the Capitol website at: SB1HD1 Text, Status