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In Your State: Hawai`i

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Philadelphia Winter Mixer
02/16/2012 - 17:30
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Freedom to Marry 2012: 11th Annual Freedom to Marry Reception
02/22/2012 - 18:30
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An Afternoon of Ladies and Lambda Legal
03/04/2012 - 13:00
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Statewide Relationship Recognition
no Licenses same-sex couples to marry.
no Honors marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions
yes Relationship recognition for same-sex couples: civil unions, effective Jan. 1, 2012.
  • 2011 Governor Neil Abercrombie signs SB232 into law, which establishes civil unions for same-sex and different-sex couples, effective Jan. 1, 2012.
  • 2010 Hawai`i legislature approves HB444, a bill to create civil unions open to both same-sex and different-sex couples with the same rights and responsibilities as provided under state law to spouses. The legislature passed the bill on April 29, 2010 and sent it to Governor Lingle for signature, acceptance without signature or veto by July 6, 2010. Governor Lingle vetoed the bill on July 6, 2010.
  • 1998 The state's constitution was amended to say "The legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples." See Hawaii Revised Statutes Article I § 23.
  • 1997 Reciprocal beneficiaries law enacted. See more details in Lambda Legal’s fact sheet Registering as Reciprocal Beneficiaries.

Statewide Employment Protections
yes Private employment protections based on sexual orientation.
yes Private employment protections based on gender identity.
yes Public (state) employment protections based on sexual orientation.
unclear Public (state) employment protections based on gender identity.

See Hawaii Revised Statutes §368-1 (2005), HRS §378-2 (2005), HRS §368-1 (2005) and HRS §378-2 (2005).

Statewide Parenting Laws
Who May Adopt Any adult or married persons petitioning jointly. Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 578-1.
Second Parent Adoptions Granted by many judges but not yet affirmed in appellate case law or confirmed in statute.
Notes  

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Related Content for region

12/19/2011
Lambda Legal Files Lawsuit On Behalf of Lesbian Couple Rejected By Hawaii Bed & Breakfast
Lambda Legal filed a discrimination lawsuit today in the First Circuit Court of Hawaii on behalf of a lesbian couple rejected by a commercial business establishment, Aloha Bed & Breakfast, because of the owner’s personal antigay beliefs.
3/31/2011
Lambda Legal and ACLU Conclude Lawsuit Seeking Civil Unions
Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai`i (ACLU) and Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing (AHFI) today announced they have dismissed their lawsuit against the state, following Governor Neil Abercrombie's signing civil unions into law last month. The Hawai`i Senate gave final approval to the bill, SB232, which allows same- and different-sex unmarried couples to enter into civil unions, with an 18-5 vote on February 16, following the 31-19 approving vote by the House on February 11, 2011. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2012.
2/23/2011
Lambda Legal and ACLU Applaud Governor's Signing of Hawai`i Civil Union Bill
Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai`i (ACLU) applaud Hawai`i Governor Neil Abercrombie's signing of SB232, which establishes civil unions for same-sex and different-sex couples in Hawai`i. The Hawai`i Senate approved the bill in an 18-5 vote on February 16. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2012.
7/29/2010
Lambda Legal and ACLU File Lawsuit Against Hawai`i Governor Seeking Civil Unions for Same-Sex Couples
Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Hawai‘i Foundation today filed suit against the State of Hawai`i three weeks after Governor Linda Lingle's veto of House Bill 444, a bill that would have allowed unmarried couples to enter into civil unions with comprehensive state law rights and responsibilities. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of six same-sex couples, five from O`ahu and one from Hawai`i Island.
12/19/2011
Cervelli v. Aloha Bed & Breakfast
Case representing a lesbian couple denied accommodation at a Hawai'i commercial business establishment.
7/29/2010
Young v. Lingle
Case seeking civil unions for same-sex couples in Hawai`i.
3/10/2008
O'Leary v. University of Hawaii
Lawsuit alleging that the university discriminated against same-sex couple by rejecting their application for family housing.
5/1/1991
Baehr v. Miike
Pioneering case seeking the right to marry for same-sex couples in Hawaii

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