Lambda Legal and ACLU File Lawsuit Against Hawai`i Governor Seeking Civil Unions for Same-Sex Couples
“The political process has failed the thousands of families who need the protections civil unions would have provided.”
July 29, 2010
(Honolulu, July 29, 2010) — Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i Foundation (ACLU) today filed suit against the State of Hawai`i three weeks after Governor Linda Lingle’s veto of House Bill (HB) 444, a bill that would have allowed unmarried couples to enter civil unions with comprehensive state law rights and responsibilities. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of six same-sex couples, five from O`ahu and one from Hawai`i Island.
Read the complaint: http://www.acluhawaii.org/downloads/YoungVLingleComplaint.pdf or
http://www.lambdalegal.org/young-v-lingle
Learn more about the plaintiffs: http://www.acluhawaii.org/downloads/plaintiffbios.pdf
A brief history of the struggle for equality in Hawaii: http://www.acluhawaii.org/downloads/HI_history_samesex.pdf
The landscape of marriage equality and civil unions in the U.S. and the world: http://www.acluhawaii.org/downloads/samesex_recognition.pdf
“It’s tragic that something needed so badly by so many Hawai`i families was derailed with a stroke of the governor’s pen,” said Jennifer C. Pizer, Lambda Legal Senior Counsel. “We had hoped we’d never have to file this lawsuit but the political process has failed the thousands of families who need the protections civil unions would have provided. Every Hawai`i family should be treated equally under the law, but because the state refuses to do that, we’re forced to go to the courts ”
The complaint filed today in the Hawai`i First Circuit Court argues that the state violates its own constitution by denying same-sex couples important rights and protections readily available to heterosexual couples through marriage.
Lois Perrin ACLU of Hawaii Legal Director said: “Governor Lingle vetoed HB 444, thereby failing in her sworn duty to do what’s best for the state she governs. To add insult to injury, she would now put fundamental rights up for a popular vote.”
Clyde Wadsworth of Alson Hunt Floyd & Ing added: “The constitution and the courts exist to prevent the majority – even when spearheaded by the Governor - from denying the rights of the few, which is why we filed this case.’
Hawai`i’s constitution was amended in 1998 to allow the Legislature to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples, which it has done. The lawsuit does not ask for marriage – only for the state to make available the full range of state law protections and duties to gay and lesbian couples, such as access to the same legal protections regarding parent-child relationships, access to family court, child support and alimony. The current “reciprocal beneficiaries” system not only fails to provide many basic rights but also is confusing in its incompleteness and sends a harmful message that the state views same-sex couples as unworthy of the full range of rights and protections.
Jennifer C. Pizer and Tara Borelli of Lambda Legal’s Western Regional Office in Los Angeles, and Lois Perrin, Daniel Gluck and Laurie A. Temple of the ACLU of Hawai`i are co-counsel in the case. Paul Alston, Clyde Wadsworth, and Stephen M.Tannenbaum of the law firm of Alston, Hunt, Floyd & Ing are serving as cooperating attorneys.
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Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
The ACLU of Hawaii’s mission is to protect the fundamental freedoms contained in the state and federal constitutions through litigation, legislative and public education programs statewide.
Ph.: (808)522-5900 Fax: (808)522-5909 Email: office@acluhawaii.org
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