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Lobbyist key in
raising age of consent
Each year, the Star-Bulletin recognizes 10 people who made a difference over the past 12 months. Whether deserving of honor or controversy, the criterion is that they made a profound impact on Hawaii. Here is the seventh notable individual.Kelly Rosati, an attorney and lobbyist, played a pivotal role in getting the state's age of sexual consent raised to 16 years old from 14, which was the lowest in the nation.
In July, her lobbying efforts were influential in obtaining the first legislative override of a gubernatorial veto since statehood.
Gov. Ben Cayetano had vetoed a near-unanimous bill that raised the age that a teenager may legally have consensual sexual relations.
The veto was "an affront to all the parents and concerned citizens of Hawaii who demanded action this legislative session to protect Hawaii's minors from adult sexual predators," she said at the time.
The override, held in special session and the first since statehood, was a brave act, said Rosati, spreading the credit.
"We are grateful for the courage of this Legislature," she said after the override vote.
The bill made it illegal for a person to have sex with a minor under 16 if that person is five years or more older than his or her partner.
"Hawaii will no longer be the only state in the nation where adults are legally free to have so-called consensual sex with middle-school students," she said.
Rosati is executive director of the Hawaii Family Forum, a "nonprofit, pro-family educational organization committed to preserving and strengthening families in Hawaii," according to the group's literature.
Over the years, Rosati has been a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, sex education, birth control and other concepts she considers harmful to public morality and family values.
"She was fantastic," said Sen. Sam Slom (R, Hawaii Kai), a supporter of Rosati's efforts to change the age-of-consent law. "Kelly Rosati was not only very intelligent and diligent, and an excellent witness during testimony, but after the session she became a fine example of citizen power in helping to organize the override. It just shows you what a committed citizen can do."
Political analyst Dan Boylan noted that the "history of American politics is full of legendary one-person crusades, and they can often be very successful if the issue is made simple and clear."
Burl Burlingame, Star-Bulletin
