A new gay-rights organization has emerged from the failed effort to stop passage of the constitutional amendment giving legislators the authority to prohibit same-sex marriage. Gay activists
revamp efforts,
seek awarenessThe formation of Equality Hawaii came as backers of the no-vote campaign assessed the failure of their drive.
"What we realized coming out of the campaign was that we needed to make ourselves more visible to the larger community as part of the citizens of Hawaii. We need to make ourselves more visible," said Ku'umeaaloha Gomes, a lesbian who is chairing Equality Hawaii.
The no-vote campaign "made a conscious decision to go with the surveys coming out," thereby emphasizing the protection of civil rights -- which public opinion polls showed that voters favored -- rather than equality for gays, since the polls also showed overwhelming rejection of same-sex marriage, Gomes said.
But the upside of the campaign was that it made the wider community aware that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered individuals are a part of everyday life, she added.
Equality Hawaii will be at the Legislature pushing for domestic partnerships and measures to curb hate crimes.
HEROIC NOTE: For those who missed it, the speech in the trial of the century included a mention of Hawaii's senior U.S. senator, Daniel Inouye.
In his rousing speech defending President Clinton against impeachment last week, former Sen. Dale Bumpers of Arkansas challenged the assertion by House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill., that a vote to acquit the president was a "breach of faith" with the brave Americans who fought wars for "the rule of law."
Said Bumpers: "If you want to know what men fought for in World War II . . . ask Sen. Inouye. He left an arm in Italy....Certified war hero. . . .So ask him, what was he fighting for?"
Bumpers mentioned a few other senators who have been honored for bravery in combat, the implication being that every combat hero is not aching to throw Clinton out of office.
By Star-Bulletin staff