Hawaii progressive, but also conservative, on civil unions

It has been less than two weeks since the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, officially freeing gays to serve openly in its ranks.

Since then, our nation has not been invaded by Luxembourg. It appears that the policy is being handled professionally and with little outward angst.

What is interesting is not that it happened, but how little ripple it caused.

Earlier this year the Gallup poll found that Americans favor same-sex marriage, 53 percent to 45 percent. A Pew Research poll had the margin at 45 percent in favor and 46 percent opposed — a draw.

If you chop up the demographics from the Gallup poll, the sea change of public opinion is all the more apparent: 70 percent of those under 35 favored same-sex marriage, while only 39 percent of those under 55 are OK with gay people legally marrying.

This is a huge shift in opinion, because back in 1996 Gallup put the difference at 68 percent opposed to 27 percent in favor.

It was just July of 2010 when then-Gov. Linda Lingle had vetoed House Bill 444, which permitted civil unions in Hawaii.

Voters on both sides of the issue were furious and the 2010 election was in part about where politicians stood on same-sex issues.

As it turned out, Hawaii rejected candidates who had vocally disapproved of civil unions and elected a governor who preached that same-sex marriage was a civil right.

This year, the state Legislature steered another civil union bill through the Capitol and Gov. Neil Abercrombie was pleased to make good on a campaign pledge and signed the bill.

The new law doesn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, and no political storm or controversy appears to be brewing because of it. If anything, the only question will be if state government’s notoriously slow bureau-cracy can actually start processing the paperwork with only 11 months lead time.

Are our politicians behind the curve; are they too timid?

Should Hawaii have joined Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C., and just let same-sex couples marry?

Hawaii, it seems, may be progressive in a slightly more conservative fashion.

“We need to see how the community and society deals with it (civil unions), before even looking at something as controversial as same-sex marriage,” says Rep. Blake Oshiro, the courageous Aiea Democrat who steered civil unions through the state House.

Alan Spector, co-chairman of Equality Hawaii, agrees that if times are changing, consensus doesn’t come easy.

“Nobody is thinking about it (same-sex marriage) for next year; we are in the midst of implementing civil unions,” Spector said.

Social change takes time and takes energy. Not everyone can spend every moment as an evangelist. The hard work means countless meetings arguing about tactics and convincing advocates to march together and keep their eyes on the prize.

“The Legislature needs a break; we need a break,” Spector acknowledges.

At the end of the break, however, Spector sees a time when Hawaii moves again and same-sex marriage is the issue and cause for action.