Gay marriage push gains speed

Advocates for gay marriage have enlisted the support of Hawaii’s congressional delegation to urge state lawmakers and the governor to act quickly to pass a measure for marriage equality.

All four Hawaii Demo­crats issued statements Friday urging elected officials to act on the matter without delay. The coordinated statement was released by Hawaii United for Marriage, a coalition of religious congregations, businesses, labor unions and community organizations.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state House and Senate leaders have been publicly circumspect about a special session before the end of the year, but there have been extensive discussions behind the scenes. If there is no special session, lawmakers will consider gay marriage during the next session of the Legislature, which starts in January.

"We’re on the brink of getting marriage equality in Hawaii, and same-sex couples shouldn’t have to wait any longer for this fundamental civil right," U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono said. "Let’s get this done."

The push comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that legally married gay couples have the right to federal tax and health care benefits, along with the coalition’s recent internal polls that show strong support for such measures and a recent University of Hawaii study touting the economic benefits to the state if a measure were passed.

Hawaii allows gay and heterosexual couples to enter into civil unions and receive the same rights and benefits of marriage under state law. However, those couples do not enjoy federal benefits.

"Our country took an important step towards achieving marriage equality, and now it’s time for Hawaii to step up and allow same-sex couples to marry," U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said. "I urge the Hawaii state Legislature to do what’s right and make marriage equality a reality."

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa said it’s time for Hawaii to "stand with the growing number of states across the country that offer full marriage equality to all of its citizens," while U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard added, "As long as government is involved in the marriage business, it must treat all Americans as equal."

House and Senate leaders have said they do not have the two-thirds’ support required to call themselves back into special session, so the decision rests with Abercrombie, who aides say is waiting for a clear signal from the House about whether there are enough votes for a gay marriage bill.

Blake Oshiro, the governor’s deputy chief of staff, said Abercrombie is open to calling for a special session.

"We are first looking into the particulars of a possible bill and the legal issues involved," Oshiro said in a statement. "Moreover, we are awaiting clarification from the Legislature, and particularly the House, as to whether there are sufficient votes for passage.

"But, until there is a clean draft of a bill, it is difficult to ascertain the votes because most legislators will want to know what precisely they would be voting on."

The Senate has the votes for gay marriage, while the House vote is closer.

State Rep. Chris Lee (D, Kai­lua-Lani­kai-Wai­ma­nalo), one of the lawmakers urging colleagues to act, says he believes the House votes are there.

"I’m absolutely confident about that," he said Friday. "I don’t think that two-thirds to call ourselves into session is there, but should the governor call us, I’m totally confident that we have the votes to pass a bill.

"Everything’s pointing toward the governor and Legislature to take action," Lee added. "It’s no longer a question of will they act, but rather when."

Another equality group, Honolulu Pride, today is launching a separate campaign on YouTube to raise awareness of the effort known as "Marriage Equality Matters to EveryoneHono­lulu."

MEME-Hono­­lulu plans to record short videos from supporters and post them on its YouTube channel with prizes awarded to the videos that receive the most views and the most "likes."

"This project is to make sure that every person that supports marriage equality has their voice heard," Hono­lulu Pride Chairman Michael Golo­juch Jr. said in a news release. "Fact is that you do not need to be a member of Congress or the chair of a committee to have a powerful impact ensuring that we have marriage equality in the Aloha State."

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Star-Advertiser reporter Derrick DePledge contributed to this report.