Do you remember way back (in the 90’s) when Hawaii was a gay marriage proving ground? Ok, yeah I know, we had disappointing set backs. How much things change in a decade. The Aloha State is back on the battlefield with a bill establishing civil unions. A Senate committee met on Tuesday, February 24 to debate a bill approving civil unions that passed earlier this month in the House. The meeting ended in a 3-3 vote tie, stalling the measure in committee for now but the bill might make it to a full floor vote.

Senators may vote to take the measure out of committee for a vote by the full Senate. Senate President Colleen Hanabusa said she believes there are enough votes for it to pass. Nine senators must vote to take the bill out of committee. Such a move is rare. The last time it happened was about 10 years ago.

I’ll be keeping an eye on this bill. There may be a move by the Senate Judiciary Committee to recall the bill and kill it, or even if it does pass the state Senate, the Republican Governor Linda Lingle could veto, although she hasn’t given any indication that she would.

We’ll have to wait and see if cooler heads prevail. The religious zealots and bigots are out in force, making noise and putting pressure on the legislature. However, an enlightened and courageous group of Hawaiian clergy that comprise the Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii are also making their voices heard at the Capitol.

The members of the alliance representing Christian, Jewish and Buddhist faiths signed a declaration supporting same sex civil unions in front of the Capitol. “We see this as a fundamental issue of civil rights, the basic rights guaranteed to all citizens as found in the Constitution of the United States the basic legal right granted to married couples should be granted to all couples who are committed in a loving relationship,” retired Punahou School Chaplain John Heidel said. [emphasis added]

It’s about time people begin to realize that this is a civil rights issue. When more people begin to realize that gay rights are civil rights, they will be able to understand how federal and state marriage, family, and adoption laws discriminate against same-sex partners and the LGBT community as a whole. Really, how is this any different from legalizing interracial marriage back in the 60’s?

It may not be time to end all same-sex based legal restrictions on marriage in the United States, but allowing gays and lesbians to enter into civil unions would be a start — just like separate but equal.

Oh, and in case you missed Dustin Black’s passionate tribute to Harvey Milk at the 81st Annual Academy Awards — Black won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the movie, Milk, — you (especially those of you with less open minds) need to read this two or three times. Here is a snip of what Black said:

“If Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he would want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by the churches, by the government, by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours.”

Check out the vid of his acceptance speech, it’s only 2 minutes of your life. You might learn something.

Crossposted at Alegre’s Corner and Partizane.