Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie Refuses to Defend Hawaii's Unjust Ban on Gay Marriage in Court

Governor Neil Abercrombie and Director of the State Department of Health Loretta Fuddy have filed two separate answers in a response to a lawsuit challenging Hawaii's ban on same-sex marriage, according to a news release from Attorney General David M. Louie, Hawaii News Now reports:

In his response, Gov. Abercrombie said that "Under current law, a heterosexual couple can choose to enter into a marriage or a civil union. A same-sex couple, however, may only elect a civil union. My obligation as Governor is to support equality under law. This is inequality, and i will not defend it."

"It's bittersweet, but I do feel great that agrees and that he's actually standing by us in that way," said Natasha Jackson, who filed the lawsuit with her partner, Janin Kleid, after they were denied a marriage license by the Department of Health last November. The two have entered a civil union, but want the same benefits of marriage that opposite-sex couples have, including having their marriage recognized in all states. "If we get the rights here, we don't want to go someplace where we don't have the rights. It just doesn't make sense so it limits our mobility," said Kleid.

The lawsuit has another plaintiff as well, Gary Bradley, who hopes to marry his now civil partner.

Fuddy said she was obligated to defend the law:

"The Department of Health is charged with implementing the law as passed by the Legislature. Absent any ruling to the contrary by competent judicial authority regarding constitutionality, the law will be enforced. Because I am being sued for administering the law, I will also defend it."

Read the full news release, AFTER THE JUMP...

Watch: Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie Signs Civil Union Bill

I added some rather poor quality video this morning to my post on yesterday's signing of Hawaii's civil union bill. But this clip is much better. Hawaii is now the seventh state to offer civil unions.

Watch Abercrombie sign, AFTER THE JUMP...

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie to Sign Civil Union Bill Wednesday

Hawaii's civil union bill will be signed into law this week, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports:

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced today that he will sign the civil unions bill Wednesday at Washington Place, a day earlier than originally scheduled.

The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Video will be streamed live at the governor’s website at http://hawaii.gov/gov.

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Hawaii would become the seventh state to grant civil unions to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself. Five states and Washington, D.C., permit same-sex marriage.

Hawaii House Approves Civil Unions Bill

Late yesterday, the Hawaii State House voted 31-19 to pass the bill that would legalize civil unions for gays and lesbians as well as heterosexual couples in that state.

"The House voted on a version of Senate Bill 232, which was amended by the House Judiciary Committee to include clarifying changes recommended by the attorney general. The bill now goes back to the Senate, which is expected to accept the House amendments and send the bill directly to the governor as early as next week."

If the bill is signed into law, civil unions in Hawaii would start on January 1, 2012.

Governor Neil Abercrombie has been a vocal supporter of gay and lesbian rights. Just last month he nominated an openly gay woman to the state's Supreme Court.

Watch a speech about civil rights that Abercrombie made at Hula's, a gay bar in Honolulu, while running for governor last year, AFTER THE JUMP.

Hawaii Governor Nominates Out Lesbian Judge to Supreme Court

Hawaii governor Neil Abercrombie has appointed an out lesbian to the state's Supreme Court, KITV reports:

Judge Sabrina McKenna, 53, has also personally experienced discrimination because she is gay.

The governor said Tuesday that McKenna’s appointment had everything to do with her intelligence, temperament and legal knowledge and nothing to do with her sexuality. McKenna said she believes her sexual orientation is important to talk about.

“I think the reason I am willing to have this interview is that I want the young people to know that it doesn't matter who you are,” McKenna said.

McKenna's three children and partner Denise Yamashiro were in the governor’s office Tuesday as the governor nominated to the state’s highest court.

“I don't think I ever would have imagined achieving this kind of honor in my life,” McKenna told reporters.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser adds:

McKenna has been on the Judicial Selection Commission lists for associate justice two previous times, for chief judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals twice and for an appeals judge five times.

McKenna was also one of three names submitted by U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka to President Barack Obama, who picked Leslie Kobayashi as Hawaii's newest U.S. District Court judge.

"She's a good judge, very competent and very in tune with the public," former chief appeals Judge James Burns said. "She's a people person. She's not only for the little guy, but everybody."

Neil Abercrombie Wins Democratic Primary in Hawaii

Pro-equality gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie won a sweeping victory in Democratic primary elections on Saturday in Hawaii, the Star-Advertiser reports:

"Abercrombie crushed former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann 60 percent to 38 percent statewide and took Oahu, the Big Island and Maui while narrowly losing on Kauai. A Star-Advertiser analysis of the primary election by state House district found that Abercrombie won all but four districts: Wailuku and Kahului on Maui and Lihue and Koloa on Kauai. Abercrombie, who represented urban Honolulu in Congress for two decades, dominated on Oahu. Some of his largest margins were in districts in Hawaii Kai, Pacific Heights, Kailua and his home in Manoa. Hannemann, who served as Honolulu mayor for the past six years, lost every district on his home turf and only managed to take a handful of precincts in Pearl City, Kapolei and Kahuku. Voter turnout was 40.9 percent of registered voters, which was slightly higher than it was in the primary two years ago but a record low for a primary in a gubernatorial election year. A record 42 percent of voters cast ballots by absentee mail or early walk-in voting."

Abercrombie faces Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona in an election for outgoing anti-gay governor Linda Lingle's office in November. As you may recall, Lingle vetoed a civil union bill earlier this year.