Civil rights panel has
ethics board approval to
take public stand

By Mike Yuen
Star-Bulletin

The state Civil Rights Commission, which has two of its four members leading the fight against a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage, has announced its opposition to the measure.

It also is against the convening of a Constitutional Convention, fearing it would roll back civil rights protections.

Although the commission adopted its stances on the ballot measures three months ago, the positions weren't announced until yesterday.

That's because on Aug. 25, commission Executive Director William Hoshijo wrote to state Ethics Commission head Daniel Mollway, asking if it was appropriate for the civil rights panel to take positions on the ballot measures.

Mollway said it was. The panel can take stands on noncandidate and nonpartisan issues that are within its statutory authority, Mollway added.

Hoshijo likened taking a position on the ballot measures to the commission's practice of taking positions on policy matters involving civil rights and offering testimony to the Legislature.

Civil Rights Commissioners Jack Law and Allicyn Hikida Tasaka are members of the executive committee of Protect Our Constitution, which contends that the marriage amendment isn't about same-sex marriage but about limiting rights of homosexuals. Siding with Law and Tasaka were Commissioners Faye Kennedy and Harry Yee.

Opposition spokeswoman Jennifer Diesman of Save Traditional Marriage-'98 said the commission's endorsement is part of a "deceptive strategy" by Protect Our Constitution because members like Law and Tasaka don't say they are affiliated with the organization.

Jackie Young, Protect Our Constitution's campaign director, said she had nothing to do with the Civil Rights Commission's endorsement. "I'm really proud of their support," Young said.

Mike Gabbard, chairman of the Alliance for Traditional Marriage, called it "absolutely nonsensical" for the commission to say prohibiting homosexual marriage would diminish civil rights.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has said the state needs to show a compelling reason why marriage licenses should not be issued to to same-sex couples.