Gov. Linda Lingle Fails Hawaii's Gays and Lesbians

Sweeping legislation that would have allowed the state of Hawaii to recognize same-sex civil unions was essentially driven off a cliff by Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, with a stinging veto that will prevent same-sex couples from achieving many of the same benefits and rights given to Hawaii's heterosexual couples.

Speaking before a press conference in Hawaii's capital, Honolulu, Gov. Lingle announced that she was vetoing the civil unions bill because she thought that civil unions ran too close to marriage, and that Hawaii citizens should have the ultimate say in whether same-sex couples deserve to have their relationships recognized by the state.

"I am vetoing this bill because I have become convinced that this issue is of such societal importance that it deserves to be decided by all the people of Hawaii. The subject of this legislation has touched the hearts and minds of our citizens as no other social issue of our day," said Gov. Lingle. "As difficult as the past few weeks have been, I am comfortable with my decision, while knowing full well that many will be disappointed by it."

Now there's an understatement. Disappointment is what happens when your favorite sports team loses a game. But being told that you're less than, void of dignity, and that your loving relationship is illegal? That's just crushing.

Let this be the legacy of Gov. Linda Lingle. Given the opportunity to fix a discriminatory law that clearly treats gays and lesbians differently and denies them many benefits, Gov. Lingle chose to stand on the side of inequality and intolerance. And she should be remembered as the Governor that could have moved Hawaii an inch closer toward equal rights, but instead deflected on a major civil rights issue.

Groups have started responding en masse, disappointed that Gov. Lingle vetoed what would have been historic civil rights legislation.

"Governor Lingle's decision to veto the civil union bill is deeply disappointing and unnecessarily delays Hawaii's journey toward fairness and equality. Governor Lingle has rejected the will of the state legislature and the advice of countless business and faith leaders and turned her back on the committed couples and Hawaii kin who have expressed their support for this measure. Freedom to Marry urges the Hawaii state legislature to overrule Governor Lingle's veto and take an important step toward fairness and equal protection for same-sex couples in Hawaii," said Evan Wolfson, the head of Freedom to Marry.

"Governor Lingle’s veto of legislation that would protect and strengthen Hawaii’s families is beyond a disappointment: It is a disgrace. Hawaii’s lawmakers passed this bill because it was about fundamental fairness. The governor’s action today flies in the face of both common sense and common humanity," added Rea Carey, the head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

“Today is a sad day for the thousands of Hawaii families who remain second class citizens,” said Alan Spector, legislative affairs co-chair for Equality Hawaii. “We fail to see how the Governor’s actions are in the best interest of Hawaii’s future and are nothing more than political maneuvering at the expense of people’s lives. We’re disappointed and outraged that same-sex families will not be treated equally under Hawaii law, but vow to come back and fight this fight another day.”

Maybe it's best to leave on that last one, since it gives some hope. Here, of course, is the truth. Gov. Linda Lingle just gave a giant middle finger to equal rights, but she's on the losing side of history. Whether it's next year, when the Governor is term-limited out of office, or in a few years, or through the result of litigation (which Lambda Legal and the ACLU have been preparing, just in case of the Governor's veto), Hawaii will have equal rights. We already know that most people in the state support recognizing same-sex relationships, a trend that will continue as time moves on, thanks to the work of Equality Hawaii, and the thousands of gays and lesbians in the state who have spoken out, and who will be motivated to speak out in the wake of Gov. Lingle's veto.

Gov. Lingle concluded her press conference with a call for voters to decide on this issue. Yet I can't think of anything less in line with the values of America than putting the civil rights of one group up for a vote. She added that "hopefully over the course of time," citizens would see her decision in a positive light, and reflective of the values of Hawaii.

On the contrary, over the course of time, it'll only become more and more apparent that Gov. Lingle struck out, when she could have hit a homerun for her state's gay and lesbian citizens.

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