Hawaii Governor Vetoes Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill

Does this look like the face of inequality? Before you answer, be sure to take a closer look. The woman you see above is none other than Linda Lingle, the sixth and current Governor of Hawaii. And she just vetoed a bill that would allow same-sex partners the same rights and benefits as married heterosexual couples.

Although Lingle claims that she has nothing against “same-gender marriage”, she feels the issue should be decided upon by Hawaii’s voting population. Obviously, we’re not very happy to deliver this news, but we can’t let stuff like this knock us down! Brush your shoulders off, and let’s continue to march forward in our fight for equal rights.

– Dewitt

To watch some not-so-fun videos, follow the JUMP:

Here’s a video of Lingle:

And here’s a video of people celebrating our inequality:

32 thoughts on “Hawaii Governor Vetoes Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill

  1. I think it is dangerous to put matters like this in the hands of the voting public, and it displays very weak leadership skills and bigotry. End of story. She denies this is not about her personal feelings, but…she’s the one who’s just made a decision and is now making a speech in front of a camera about that decision. Those are actions only a person can do. Does she not consider herself a person, then?

    Additionally, her wardrobe and overall energy read very gay to me.

  2. The very notion that the majority should be able to decide if any legitimate minority group should or should not be treated equally in any respect is appalling.

  3. If majority vote was required to “bestow” rights upon a minority, who should already have those rights, we would probably still have slaves and only white, land-owners would be able to vote.

    It saddens me that America, the so-called land of the free, lags so far behind most other “first-world” countries in understanding that equality and freedom are for all citizens, not just those in charge.

  4. Me a coward? Absolutely not! If I were a coward, I wouldn’t have posted that she is my hero.
    I have experienced and have observed that gay people tend to not stay together very long. I’ve discussed this with other gay friends, and they agree. And if they do stay together they have to have an open relationship. So, why should we expect to have those rights granted to us when we can’t stay in a committed relationship the way it is?
    I know that the argument will be that the divorce rate is high in the straight community. I know that. I’m not living in a cave. But I think until we can prove that we are capable of staying together for longer than a three year period (the average), we should not expect those rights.
    Disagree with me all you want. I’m not going to argue.

  5. i so fucking hate the argument that the public should decide if gay ppl should have the right to marry. let’s face it, if this were the 1950s and if they were gonna let the public decide whether or not to get rid of segregation, how in the hell do you think that would have went? you can’t put ethicial decisions in the hands of the public bc they get it wrong most of the time. and tam, i get what you are saying, but i think this isn’t an issue of allowing gay ppl to marry, but allowing us to have the same right as everyone else in the country.

  6. But isn’t the government “For the people, BY the people”? I don’t think I like the idea of government ramming ANYTHING down our throats. You then open up a whole can of worms once that is allowed… Wait… It already happens. And I, for one, don’t like it.
    I’m being nice. I would appreciate the same to me. 🙂

  7. Slavery was abolished because it became unproductive and uneconomical, women were accepted into the workplace and given the right to vote because it was productive and economical, and gays will be given their right to marry when…?????????

    Who will be affected negatively by this? Representative democracy is a far cry from Lincoln’s loaded words, yes what a good idea it is to let the ignorant mob rule. You can only peddle backwards for so long before you end up right back where you started.

  8. If you aren’t familiar with the story behind Gov. Lingle’s decision, this was a ploy by the Democrat-heavy State Legislature to force her to make a decision they themselves did not want to make due to the bill’s lack of popularity in Hawaii and the massive overkill of its exposure. So the Democrats decided to throw this measure in at the very last minute prior to the Legislature’s recess. It was underhanded that it made it through to the Governor’s desk, and the voters of Hawaii knew it.

    Sure, the local gay community celebrated, but such tactics were not forgotten by the people who would eventually flood Gov. Lingle’s office with their objections.

    Though she is a Republican, she votes very moderate and has been fair to the people of Hawaii. Her predecessors were all Democrats when similar bills reached their desks, and failed to pass into law…so this is not a Party issue no matter how much you want to make it out to be.

    Our community does not need to stoop to such tactics, and the Democrats should be ashamed for their blatant attempts to pull the wool over the eyes of the people they represent! We can do better, and we can do it in such a way to appeal to the voters. We need the support of the people, or at least the majority of the people for us to live as we are, and under safe conditions. Passing an unpopular bill will no doubt anger the public, and potentially endanger the safety of those in the community. Our do-it-at-any-cost mentality negates our fight.

  9. This was a sad event for the gay community in Hawaii, but we won’t surrender that easily.

  10. @Tam

    You shame yourself, truly. Regardless of your twisted logic, you should never settle for less than equal rights as everyone else.

    “I have experienced and have observed that gay people tend to not stay together very long. I’ve discussed this with other gay friends, and they agree. And if they do stay together they have to have an open relationship.”

    First of all, you don’t know most gays and therefore you cannot say that “gay people tend to” do anything. Just because you and your unfortunate friends haven’t been in a lasting relationship doesn’t mean that plenty of us haven’t. Second, all of the gay couples I’m well acquainted with are NOT in open relationships. Third, who the fuck are you to decide whether an open relationship is good or bad? You can decide what’s right for you, but you can’t decide what’s right for others. Your pathetic reasoning for your approval of the HB444 bill veto.

    My only wish is that someday, if/when you marry the man of your dreams, you look back on your present way of thinking and you are ashamed. Don’t ever settle for less than equal rights man. Have some class.

  11. Tam, did you ever consider that many same sex relationships are short lived… specifically because they are not supported by society? Think about it. Society fully supports str8 marriage and the divorce rate is 50%… if you were to add pressure of a world that thought you shouldn’t be together..str8 marriage might end in divorce 99% of the time….

  12. I know I am going 2 get a lot of flack 4 this but I am against gay marriage but having said that I think everyone should have the right 2 choose the life that is right 4 them. History will show that major decision that alter long standing racial & sexual injustice was N fact not decide by referendum but by actions of the executive & the legislative branches of states / federal government such as civil right bill passed by congress and signed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson , When all else fails the courts decide such as Brown vs Board of education & Roe vs Wade .Referendum is just another way of saying more of the same …

  13. AthleteLv, prove it. Really? I’m sorry. If you love your partner enough, NO ON OR NO THING is going to break that apart. That choice belongs to you and your partner.
    What the??: Awww. You hurt my feelings.. Actually, I love Sarah Palin. Thank you for the compliment!
    Bee, I’m not shamed. Just because my views don’t jive with yours? It’s called diversity! I’m proud to say I’m not a cookie cutter gay man! I agree with BlackJackHammer in the fact that I’m against gay marriage. On several levels. If that makes me an idiot in some eyes (What the??), so be it. No skin off my nose. You will NOT find me ever marrying another man. Fact.
    Again, I have been kind in my posting. I had hoped to expect the same from everyone else. But What the?? had to mess that up.

  14. Aw, poor tam. Tam, their is a difference between being opposed to gay marriage and being opposed to it FOR yourself. And the fact you love Sarah (half-term governor) Palin more than proves my point about you.

    Too bad you are so uncomfortable being gay.

  15. @Tam

    Disagreeing with equal rights for gays (a community that you claim to be a part of) is a type of diversity we can all live without. You find joy in the misery of your own GLBT community? You’re just a rebellious child.

  16. I’m NOT a reformed gay! I sure wouldn’t be on here if I were! I’m also NOT uncomfortable being gay! Just because I don’t agree with everything that goes on or is perpetuated by the gay movement does not make me anything less! So I don’t agree with everything! So what! If your arguments hold true, then you better support NAMBLA!
    What the??: THEY’RE going over THERE for THEIR party. LEARN THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORDS! Your arguments will at least appear to come from someone smart.

  17. Tam, You seem to believe that monogamy is something that will change everyone into wonderful human beings, and that through monogamy, humans can then be deemed worthy of equal rights in our society. That’s just heterosexist claptrap. Not very uplifting to our beautiful gay brothers who believe in love.

    Gay people and str8 people are not able to act the same way in their marriage because science specifically prohibits it.

    A marriage of two penises has different needs than a marriage of penis and a vagina. Period. This is an incredibly simplistic FACT that gets ignored when people accidentally start judging.

    How long have you been in your current monogamous relationship? Or, have you ever had a long term monogamous relationship?

    What’s your frame of reference here? Church? Mom and Dad? Society? Progressive thinking will set us free.

  18. tam, now you are getting personal. I am well aware how to use there and their. It was a typo. I may not be perfect but you still are a bigoted, anti-gay, Sarah Palin loving, miserable republican asshole. Wanna keep this up? You don’t stand a chance. Dork.

    Clearly, everyone else here agrees that all gay people should be treated fairly and equally. The fact that you disagree says a great deal about you character. Now, go away before someone drops a house on you my pretty!

    hahahahahahaha

  19. Oh, god tam. I am sorry. There was another typo in my last message. Can you find it????

    hahahahahahah

  20. tam, I agree with What the?? You are a dork. Why do you hate yourself so much man? Shame on you.

  21. If all you can do with your arguments is call names, I don’t think I’ve lost.
    It’s funny (not really). I see you same guys post on here how you shouldn’t be judged, yet you just judged me. Hypocritical, don’t you think? And I’m the dork?
    Mark, I don’t hate myself at all! I don’t feel any shame. I am who I am. I believe what I believe, not something spoon fed to me. So what if I don’t agree with you? I thought we were supposed to be a loving and accepting community. Loving each other for who we are, not who everyone WANTS us to be.
    What the?? It got personal LONG before I wrote about “you” typos! YOU made it personal to me when you started calling names, which is the normal liberal retreat when they no longer have facts to argue with.
    I have better things to do with my time than to waste it on silly little arguments (and this is one!) that will change nobody’s mind. Have a good one!

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