I was there when the Governor of Hawaii vetoed House Bill 444
A guest opinion piece by Être Humain

I was there at the Hawaii State Capitol when our governor, Linda Lingle, vetoed House Bill 444, which would have given all couples the right to get a civil union, homosexual or heterosexual. All of us came out early in the morning to wave signs for equality, and many showed their support by honking.

After we learned that she would veto the bill, we were all disappointed, and many got up to the microphone and spoke about their long-term relationships. One man, with his boyfriend for five years, said he wonders everyday that if something happens to either of them, the other will be granted visitation rights. Another man, with his boyfriend of twelve years, called Lingle a “coward,” and yelled, “Shame!”

Everybody knew that even though her decision affected gay couples’ lives personally, it would not be the end. Hawaii’s ACLU and HRC have already vowed they’d litigate until the case reaches the Supreme Court. Other politicians came out to show their support, including Gary Hooser, majority leader of the Hawaii Senate, and Justice Steven Levinson, who authored the Supreme Court’s Baehr v. Lewin back in 1993, which deemed same-sex marriages constitutional.

There were many people dressed in white with buttons that said “iVote”, alluding that they would vote out supporters of equality. For the most part, we ignored them and they ignored us. After Lingle handed down her decision, her supporters sang hymns and yelled out prayers, swaying with their hands in the air.

[July 6] was a big defeat for equality, but Hawaii activists vow to never stop fighting until the LGBT community is treated as first-class citizens: as equals.

Same-sex couples to have full visitation rights

President Obama has signed a memorandum which prohibits discrimination in hospital visitation. The memo, The Washington Post reports, will allow LGBT patients to have non-family visitors. The big kicker, however, is they will also be allowed to grant their partners medical power of attorney.

This right has been one of the main concerns in the debates for same-sex marriage. Up until now, crucial medical decisions could only be made by a family member.

Obama ensures that the new rules are to protect everyone, and not pandering to special interests groups. He states that patients are denied the kindness and care of their loved ones every day.

He goes on the say the the most affected are “gay and lesbian American who are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives – unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated.“

(Photo: Associated Press)

From the Vatican: Homosexuality causes pedophilia

In response to the latest slew of pedophilia charges towards the Catholic Church, the Vatican’s number two in command suggests the incidents are linked to homosexuality rather than celibacy.

The Associated Press reports Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone’s rather unsettling comments during a press conference in Chile.

“Many psychologists and psychiatrists have demonstrated that there is no relation between celibacy and pedophilia. But many others have demonstrated, I have been told recently, that there is a relation between homosexuality and pedophilia. That is true,” said Bertone. “That is the problem.”

Chile recently became a hotbed of accusations against the Catholic Church. At least one of the priests, however, is accused of targeting young girls. A teenaged girl has even become pregnant.

(Photo: Associated Press)

No love for Phillip Morris

The highly anticipated gay film starring Ewan McGregor and Jim Carrey has been postponed again. Maybe indefinitely.

The film, which originally premiered at Sundance in 2009, was set to premier in March. Consolidated Pictures Group, however, delayed the release date to the end of April, where it would have an very limited run and then expand over the next few months.

A spokeswoman for CPG reported to the LA Times that the film has been delayed yet again, and has no scheduled release date at this time.

I Love You Phillip Morris centers around the life of Steven Russell (Carrey) who is happily married with children. After a near death experience, Russell comes out of the closet, and lives as a con man to pay for his new lifestyle. Russell is eventually carried away to jail, where he falls in love with his cellmate, Phillip Morris (McGregor). 

Though the content of the movie is controversial, it is rare for a film starring two heavyweight actors to sit in the dark for very long.

(Photo: Consolidated Pictures Group)