There is a growing body of peer-reviewed scientific literature certifying that oxybenzone and octinoxate are detrimental to our nearshore ecosystems.

While these sunscreen chemicals do wash off ocean users directly into the water, they also wash off later in the shower, ultimately moving from sewage treatment plants, cesspools and septic systems into the ocean, where they do cumulative damage.

The argument that there will be more skin cancers without oxybenzone and octinoxate in the sunscreens sold in Hawaii, is specious and disingenuous (“Sunscreens save lives, have limited impact on coral reefs,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 29). There are plenty of effective sunscreens with high SPF factors that will protect our collective skin from cancer, that do not contain noxious chemicals. Virtually all the major sunscreen manufacturers already produce sunscreens without oxybenzone and octinoxate in them, as do a growing number of Hawaii-based companies.

State Rep. Sylvia Luke should immediately schedule a hearing for Senate Bill 2571 in the House Finance Committee, and the Legislature should pass this important bill.

Rick Gaffney

Kailua-Kona

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Conversion therapy harms LGBT youth

In the past couple of years, LGBT issues have been progressing from marriage equality to discrimination protections. Despite this progress, there is still a long way to go.

LGBT youth can be forced to receive conversion therapy, which has been discredited by almost every major medical and psychological organization. These organizations have also found that conversion therapy is not only ineffective but can cause significant hardship to the development of a growing child.

This year, Hawaii has the chance at becoming the 10th state to ban this so-called practice. Senate Bill 270 would prohibit state-licensed persons who are licensed in professional counseling from engaging in or advertising sexual orientation change efforts to minors.

Our LGBT youth are ineligible to vote, but we can give them a voice by protecting them from dangerous practices like conversion therapy. It is time to pass SB 270.

Jeremy Mendoza

McCully-Moiliili

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Advance deadline to turn in firearms

I’m not a bot. I’m not a crisis actor. I’m not anti-gun. I am a person who feels that sensible gun laws will protect people.

Let Hawaii lead the country in reasonable, actionable and effective laws. Senate Bill 2436 will shorten the time required for convicted domestic abusers to turn in firearms, from 30 days to seven days.

We need to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of people who have shown themselves to be unfit to have access to them.

Vivian Chang

Diamond Head

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Can doctors refuse to give lethal pills?

I have a few questions about the ramifications of the medical aid in dying bill that just passed.

Imagine this scenario: Dr. X has two patients who, in her professional opinion, have less than six months to live. Patient A chooses to die a natural death. Patient B requests the lethal drugs that will cause him to end his life.

What happens if it violates Dr. X’s conscience to prescribe drugs that will hasten Patient B’s death? She took the Hippocratic Oath when she became a doctor to do no harm to a patient, and she sees prescribing a lethal drug as just that.

Is Dr. X opening herself up to a lawsuit by Patient B because she is denying Patient B his right to request lethal drugs? What about the effect on insurance companies? Will they reduce or stop authorizing treatments or hospital stays, to steer people toward requesting lethal drugs since, from the insurer’s standpoint, that is definitely a cheaper option?

The law may have unintended consequences.

Linda Stringer

Aliamanu

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Use surcharge to bill major water users

The article, “Rate hike proposed” (Star-Advertiser, March 28), seems somewhat confusing in relation to single family vs. multi-family.

How many individuals is the Board of Water Supply counting in a single family vs. multi-family home? In my experience, a single family of, say, four individuals usually uses less water than a multi-family residence of six or more residents.

It appears BWS is mistakenly placing a larger burden on single-family residences. What is the BWS’s definition of single-family vs. multi-family residences, and how does its definition apply to “monster homes” that are springing up in abhorrently obscene numbers?

To make things fairer, BWS should be charging a standard rate across the board and then perhaps a surcharge for residences exceeding a specified number of gallons, as well as rewarding those who stay under a certain amount.

George A. Kam III

Kapolei