You are here: Home » Featured » Lambda Legal, ACLU Files Suit In Hawaii Over Civil Unions Citing Sexual Discrimination

Lambda Legal, ACLU Files Suit In Hawaii Over Civil Unions Citing Sexual Discrimination

07/29/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
After the decision by probably lesbian Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle to veto a civil unions bill, six lesbian and gay couples have filed suit Thursday seeking the same rights as married couples. The lawsuit apparently does not include the titles of ‘marriage’ or ‘civil unions’, but instead it seeks to have the courts extend the same benefits and responsibilities of marriage based upon the Hawaii Constitution’s prohibition against sex discrimination. According to plaintiff Suzanne King, who has been in a relationship with her partner for twenty-nine years, “we continue to be discriminated against. We’re a family unit and we live our lives just like everyone else, but we aren’t treated the same.

Lingle has been dogged by credible, if unproven, rumors that she is lesbian. She took the cowardly way out of passing the civil unions bill by claiming that it was up to the voters to decide whether to reserve marriage for couples of a man and a woman. She did this in her last term in office, and is likely seeking to drum up support from homophobic elements in Hawaii for a run for the House or the Senate.

Hawaii has defined marriage as being between a man and a woman, and did so in 1998, making it the first in the nation. The Defense of Marriage Act was created after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for the state to deny same-sex couples equal rights.

Of course, people like Garret Hashimoto of the Hawaii Christian Coalition maintain that the people are on his side of the bigotry despite polling indicating that eighty percent of Hawaiians support civil unions. He stated “I feel insulted. They keep bringing up Martin Luther King, black rights, and women’s sufferage. This is not about that. This is about two males or two females practicing sex. It’s behavior. It’s no different from smokers or drinkers.” Except, of course, smokers and drinkers are afforded more rights than lesbians and gays, and, of course, there is a lot of scientific evidence that homosexuality is biologically based just like being African-American or female are. Of course, men like Hashimoto tend to ignore the science in favor of their own prejudices.

Jennifer Pizer, senior councel for Lambda Legal, pointed out that the state lacks the same legal privileges and responsibilities regarding adoption, child support, alimony and access to family court. Lambda Legal is bringing this suit in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union.

Pizer stated “This case is not about marriage. It’s about the right of same-sex couples to at least have a system that is understandable and complete. The state’s equality guarantee at least has to mean same-sex couples should have the same rights and responsibilities, even if it’s segmented off into a system that isn’t as respected, understood and revered as marriage.”

The case will probably not be settled until the Hawaii Supreme Court or the Legislature deal with the issue of civil unions. It may end up being dealt with by the United States Supreme Court in the not too distant future which may strike down all DOMA bills and state constitutional clauses.

LGR has been trying to confirm that Governor Lingle is lesbian and has a girlfriend, but so far, no firm leads have appeared.

Source