Session doesn’t let people decide

Aloha and thanks to our elected officials who serve us. One can only imagine the pressures they must face making hard decisions that divide our community.

Whether we agree to disagree on the issue of same-sex marriage, we must treat each person with respect and honor. There is no place in our society for hate, prejudice or discrimination.

A revisiting and re-voting of the 1998 constitutional amendment would be the fairest way to decide this among a community that is clearly divided. If one side does in fact hold the majority, we will have to acknowledge that decision.

This issue is much too important to be squeezed into and rushed through a special session, which in many ways feels like an unexpected and unfair takeover of our democratic process.

Will our legislators let the people decide?

Garner Shimizu
Moanalua

Civil rights not a ballot issue

Those who oppose same-sex marriage misunderstand what democracy is. Democracy is not about who has the most votes. It is about passing legislation that does not infringe upon the rights of the people.

The courts have made it clear that discrimination based upon a person’s sexual orientation is illegal. They made it even clearer when they struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8.

This misunderstanding of state and federal law is why civil rights issues has never been nor should ever be put up for a vote by the general public.

Darcianne M. Ernce
Kailua

How will change affect children?

We need to concern ourselves with the children of the rising generation who are in our care. What will society look like 10, 20, or even two years from now if we allow more children to be raised in same-gender households? Do we know? It is the innocent keiki who are in danger now.

You and I had a father and a mother. Nature has dictated that it be so. Let’s not experiment on the keiki of Hawaii so that a minority group doesn’t get its feelings hurt. Wake up, people! Who’s discriminating, really?

Meijken Boone
Laie

Allow me dignity of true marriage

I was baptized in the church before I could walk. Growing up in the church, my parents hoped that there would never be a day when I was not at home in God’s house.

Lately I feel a stranger among many who profess to follow the teachings of Jesus. We are not a Taliban state where one religious view is forced on all. We are a pluralistic society where differences are valued and the rights of the few are protected. Kali and I have had a loving, committed, faithful relationship for 11 years, yet we are denied more than a thousand rights and protections that go automatically with marriage.

Allow me the dignity of celebrating my 11-year relationship with my life partner, family and friends by marrying in my home state.

Doran Porter
Kaneohe

Let’s reject old prejudices

It wasn’t so long ago that the "religious right" was declaring that gays and lesbians were promiscuous and incapable of long-term, committed relationships.

When that argument was proven to be false and people became more evolved, civil unions were allowed but it was still considered to be a less-than equal partnership in the legal sense.

As it was then and remains to be, if Dan and Dave get married, it will not affect my marriage except to benefit the state coffers in taxes and the divorce attorneys when relationships sometimes sour, as they are wont to do. After all, 50 percent of heterosexual marriages end in divorce.

If the churches are really going to practice what they preach, they’ll live and let live. There’s way too much intolerance and hate in the world. Let’s be the "Aloha State" we claim to be.

Michel Grotstein
Kaneohe

Sister should respect doctrine

With regard to Sister Joan Chatfield’s heretical opinion regarding same-sex marriage, I would like to correct a few things ("Golden rule should guide marriage issue," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Oct. 20).

No one is discriminating against homosexuals when defending traditional marriage between a man and a woman, certainly not the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis has not changed the church’s stance or teaching on homosexuality and marriage. Even if he personally approved of same-sex marriage, he could not change church teaching, because God defined marriage between one man and woman. As the vicar of Christ on Earth, he must protect and defend marriage between a man and a woman.

Chatfield is forgetting that marriage is one of the Church’s seven sacraments and must be respected and revered. As a religious sister, she should be defending her church’s teaching, not causing division.

Esther Gefroh
Kakaako

It’s a civil right, not theology

The Hawaii Legislature will convene on Oct. 28 for a special session to focus on whether same-sex marriages may be deemed legal in this state.

On Kauai, it has been reported that state Rep. James K. Tokioka plans to vote against this proposal because it is what his constituency feels he should do to reflect their perspectives on this issue.

How will his vote reflect the right of individuals to enter into a contractual arrangement that goes beyond religious perspectives? How will he explain why the right to choose one’s life partner should be denied in a country that has a pledge of allegiance with the words, "with liberty and justice for all"?

I attend a church that emphasizes love of God and one another. Our services are held with "open hearts, open minds and open doors," an indication that faith journeys vary in thought and approach.

The Legislature is dealing with a civil rights issue, irrespective of theological interpretations.

Jose Bulatao Jr.
Kekaha, Kauai

Discrimination, fear led to loss

"Beware of false prophets" and "What would Jesus do?" are better guides for our representatives than the Hawaii Pastors Roundtable’s highly presumptive and negative statement of "Godʻs plan."

In fact, marriage equality will allow all of us to live our lives as loving families.

My family, like many others now and in decades past, was torn apart by needless discrimination and prejudice.

When I was 12, and my caring big brother Don was only 17, he was driven out of the family by fear and ignorance — despite his kindness and many talents. Nearly 50 years passed before his death, after which I finally learned of his amazing life from his loving lifetime partner. What was taken from my family was priceless and can never be reclaimed.

No, our loss was not according to God’s plan! Hawaii’s legislators and citizens must beware the highly funded false prophets who are now so stridently predicting doom. Yes, NOW is the time for equality.

Robert G. Walls (USN, Ret.)
Kaneohe

Marriage only tip of same-sex push

Same-sex marriage is much more than marriage equality. The well-documented video, "What Gay Marriage did to Massachusetts" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZXzUpzHLkA), cites the enormous unexpected consequences of "marriage equality."

Immediately after gay marriage passed, homosexual education began in high schools down to elementary schools — initially as "marriage equality" and thereafter as a promotion of gay lifestyles and graphic sexual practices. The video documents violations of First Amendment freedom of speech, conscience and religion for anyone disagreeing with these policies, often accompanied with persistent harassment by gay groups.

Ignoring public sentiment here, Gov. Neil Abercrombie railroaded same-sex marriage discussions into a five-day special session. Broad in social implication, same-sex marriage is too important for public exclusion: It must be decided by the people it will affect — all of us. Please contact your representatives now, asking them to allow the people of Hawaii to vote on this issue.

John Nakao, Aiea
Chris Kegans, Waialae
Patrick Rorie, Wahiawa

Healthy families all around us

With all due respect to the Hawaii Pastors Roundtable ("Maintain tradition, pastors urge," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 22), I take issue with the notion that "God’s original design" of heterosexual marriage "best promotes healthy families."

To prove themselves worthy adoptive parents, the LGBT couples I know who are raising children have had to pass ultra-rigorous, stricter-than-usual screening in the areas of emotional, professional and financial stability; socio-economic health; physical health; and the ambience of the home. In an environment of tolerance and inclusion, knowing they’re deeply wanted and loved, the children are growing beautifully, forming the kind of tolerant, productive society we envision for the world.

And what about those of us who are heterosexual and who are childless by choice, or who may be Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim or non-Christian? Are we, too, excluded from "God’s original design"? Marriage equality is about civil rights, so let’s stop delaying the inevitable and become the 15th state to legalize gay marriage.

Jocelyn Fujii
Makiki

Federal-benefits access is right

The Legislature needs to pass the marriage equality bill. To do otherwise is hypocritical of that body.

They have already written and passed a civil union law, providing state-level marriage equality. To provide access to federal marriage equality benefits, in place and waiting for state action, is a simple extension of their previous action. To keep that access door closed is hypocritical.

Robert F. Gentry
Waikiki

Hawaii did job with civil unions

The state Attorney General has issued his opinion on same-sex marriage. In it, he states that under Hawaii’s civil union law, couples "have all of the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities under the law" as do married couples.

If homosexuals in Hawaii want the same considerations under federal law, they should consult the U.S. Congress. They should not try to force the state of Hawaii to change the definition of marriage just to fix a defect in federal law.

Correct the problem where it lies. Hawaii has already done so.

Michael G. Palcic
St. Louis Heights

Clerics have it all backwards

"A group of clerics cites the Bible as reason lawmakers should reject marriage equality," says a recent article ("Maintain tradition, pastors urge," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 22). It looks like the clerics have it all backwards. Our elected representatives didn’t put their hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible. They did, in fact, put their hand on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution, which guarantees equality to all. Maybe the clerics should stop worrying about marriage equality and help stop priests in the Catholic Church from sexually molesting innocent little boys.

They can bus in their senior citizens with a free bus ride and maybe a free lunch, but they can’t stop the majority of the people of our state and our country from backing marriage equality.

Even the majority of Catholics support marriage equality, so maybe the clerics should actually listen to the people before they make a lot of sound and fury, signifying absolutely nothing.

Walter Mahr
Mililani