OHA Chair Colette Machado Joins Rally Against Gay Marriage Special Session
HNN Aug 26, 2013 (excerpts): While Hawaii lawmakers work on a marriage equality bill today pastors from 100 churches signed a declaration to stand against same sex marriage and urge lawmakers not to go into a special session....
Photo: Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chair Colette Machado in blue mu'umu'u towards right.
They are concerned that if same sex marriage becomes law they'll get sued if they deny a homosexual couple access to their facilities.
"We are fighting for the rights of pastors and Christians who have a conscience and we say I'm sorry we can't do that. Will we then be discriminated against because it's not law," said Cordeiro.
House lawmakers plan to meet this Wednesday. A draft of a marriage equality bill is already in the works with an exemption protecting churches that's stronger than the civil union law....
"It basically says that if particular churches don't want to participate in these ceremonies they don't have to and they're not going to be forced to," said State Representative Chris Lee, (D) Kailua Waimanalo, who is a proponent of marriage equality.
"That's never the case. Businesses, individuals and churches have all gotten sued for not complying with same sex marriage," said Scow, who says there have been lawsuits in other states with same sex marriage laws.
"It has so many loopholes in it as of yet," said Cordeiro.
They worry a special session will just push it through in a week or two without their voice being heard.
read ... Churches to be Forced?
Atheist Advertiser: Gay Marriage Law An Excellent Opportunity to Blackmail Churches
SA: For Hawaii to approve such exemptions would be a step backward. Five years ago, the University of Hawaii settled a discrimination lawsuit by a gay couple who said they were denied family housing with a settlement to include same-sex couples. UH revised its policy to include same-sex couples in family housing.
Several churches in Hawaii allow couples that are not members to use some facilities to commemorate their wedding vows. Such commercial activity clearly should fall under the state's public accommodations law, which prohibits discrimination.
(Translation: We at the Advertiser want the Government to impose gay marriage on the churches by forcing them to give up revenues from weddings. We do not believe that you have freedom of religion. You must bow before the government-imposed religion of homosexuality.)
(Quick IQ Test: Is this Constitutional?)
read ... No First Amendment Here
Gay 'Marriage': House Democrats to Count Votes Wednesday
SA: The MoveOn.org Honolulu Council plans to hold a rally at the state Capitol on Wednesday, the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, in support of marriage equality. Another event, organized by a group called Equality Hawaii, is set for Saturday.
House Democrats are to meet Wednesday to discuss the matter and inform the governor whether they have the votes to pass a bill. Such a measure has enough support in the Senate.
Abercrombie has been cautious about calling a special session while awaiting a clear signal from the House, which does not have the two-thirds' majority needed by both chambers to call a special session.
The Hawaii Republican Party issued a statement urging all parties to wait until January so the public can engage in a full and open discussion.
"Forcing this heated issue through an abbreviated session will only stifle public input, which should be the most important part of the legislative process," the party said in a statement. "Gov. Abercrombie should be welcoming, not suppressing, the voice of the public on this issue.
"If Gov. Abercrombie wants his bill to be heard, he should wait until the regular session when all others will have the time and opportunity to put forth their own ideas."
read ... Wednesday
Background: Gays Attack Hawaiian Culture, ‘Multi-Generational Families’ Use Feds to Pressure Hawaii DoE Bullying Programs