This is an urgent call to submit testimony!
Our Hawaii State Constitution STILL has a provision that reads: “Article 1, Section 23. The legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite sex couples.” This language was added to our constitution in 1998. In the years since, the Hawaii legislature has made same sex marriage legal in Hawaii and the U.S. Supreme Court has done the same for same sex couples across the United States. Many of our friends, family members and co-workers are now in same sex marriages with love and dignity.
It is time to remove this language from our State Constitution.
Speaker of the House Scott Saiki has submitted a bill to amend the State Constitution to delete this provision. It is HB2802 and it is set for hearing on Wednesday, February 21st at 2:00 pm before the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. If the bill passes, then on election day in October, the voters will decide whether the provision will be deleted.
Please submit testimony in support of this bill. It will take only a few minutes to do so. It is due before 2:00 pm on Tuesday.
Below is a forwarded email from the ACLU which explains the bill and has a link to the legislative website where you can submit testimony. Anything you can do to get more people to submit testimony would be so appreciated.
Thank you!
Diana
Indivisible Hawaii
LGBTQIA+ Issue Group
Over 10 years ago, families and communities from all walks of life across Hawai’i called on the Hawai’i State Legislature to ensure LGBTQ couples had the freedom to marry. Because of supporters like you, we won and thousands of families live with the dignity and rights marriage provides. However, the Hawai’i State Constitution still reflects an outdated view on marriage from a 1998 constitutional amendment: Article I, Section 23. The legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples. On Wednesday, February 21st at 2:00pm the Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee is hearing HB2802, Proposing an Amendment to Article 1, Section 23, of the Hawaii Constitution Relating to Marriage. HB2802 proposes to remove the Legislature’s authority to define marriage to opposite-sex couples. Tell Hawai’i Representatives it’s time for voters to declare that all Hawai’i families are welcome here. Submit Testimony in support of HB2802 and ensure LGBTQ people have the freedom to marry the person they love in the Hawai’i State Constitution. Your testimony can looks something like this:
With your help, we can right this wrong and ensure people have the freedom to marry the person they love.
Aloha Chair Tarnas and JHA Committee Members, my name is NAME and I live in TOWN/CITY. I’m writing in strong support of HB2808, which proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the legislature’s authority to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples. The Hawai’i Marriage Equality Act of 2013 codified in Hawaii law the right to marry for LGBTQ couples, but the remaining Section 23 allows the Legislature to undo that progress. Given national trends against the LGBTQ community, the U.S. Supreme Court’s roll-back of abortion protections, and their potential over-turning of Obergefell v. Hodges, I believe Hawaiʻi must take proactive steps to defend the right to marry for LGBTQ couples. The Hawai’i State Constitution should reflect the best of Hawaii’s values, please support HB 2808. Mahalo for your time and consideration.
Mahalo, Carrie Ann Shirota Policy Director, ACLU Hawai’i
