National Geographic

By a vote of 22-2, Hawaii's state Senate has approved a bill banning employment discrimination against transgender residents. The bill has already passed in the state House.

Discrimination against transgender individuals is already illegal in Hawaii for housing, public accommodations and employment, but the ban on employment discrimination has only been established by rulings of the Civil Rights Commission and has not been written into the state statute. The legislation moves to gay-friendly Democratic Gov. Neil Abercromie. Upon the governor's signature, Hawaii will join 12 states and the District of Columbia to provide transgender employment, house and public accommodation protections.

Welcome news, of course, but note that such protections only exist in 12 states. And ENDA remains a faint dream...

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) announced tonight that he will not run for reelection in 2012, making him the fifth Senate Democrat to declare their retirement at the end of the current term. Akaka was first appointed to the Senate in 1990 after Sen. Spark Matsunaga died of prostate cancer.

After months of thinking about my political future, I am announcing today that I have decided not to run for re-election in 2012. As many of you can imagine, it was a very difficult decision for me. However, I feel that the end of this Congress is the right time for me to step aside. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the people of Hawaii. In 2006, the people of Hawaii gave me an opportunity to continue my service in the United States Senate and I fully intend to serve the last two years of my term in office.

I guess it's time for another look at the below worrisome map. Democrats have 23 Senate seats up for election in 2012, the GOP has only ten.

Towleroad points us to this clip of yesterday's civil unions signing ceremony in Hawaii. Gov. Neil Abercrombie makes a great speech that you should enjoy.

To the thunderous cheers of activists and allies, moments ago Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed his state's civil unions bill into law. As he signed his name, Abercrombie announced that the measure is "the essence of 'aloha'." I'll post video of the signing ceremony shortly.

Just in from Equality Hawaii!

Equality Hawaii, the state's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, and the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization, today applauded the Hawaii legislature for approving civil unions for the second time in ten months. The bill, which was passed in its amended form today by the Hawaii Senate on an 18-5 vote, now heads to Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his signature. "We honor and thank the legislature today for their commitment to equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Hawaii, said Alan Spector, co-chair of Equality Hawaii. “For the second time in less than a year, legislators have dedicated themselves to providing dignity and respect to all families in the Aloha State."

Congratulations Hawaii! Linda Lingle can SUCK IT.

The Hawaii House has just approved its civil unions bill by a vote of 31-19!

The bill now goes back to the Senate, which passed a similar version of the measure last month. If the Senate agrees to changes in the bill made by the House, the measure would go to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who supports civil unions legislation. Senate Bill 232 would grant same-sex and heterosexual couples the ability to enter into a civil union with all of the rights, protections, benefits and responsibilities of traditional marriage.

The House changes — recommended by the state Attorney General's Office — clarify that because civil unions will not be recognized under federal law, certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that apply to husbands and wives in Hawaii would apply with the same force and effect to partners in civil unions. Family Court will also have jurisdiction in matters of annulment, divorce and separation in civil unions, as the court does over marriages.

Just one more step!

Last month Hawaii's civil unions bill passed in the state Senate. And last night an 11-2 vote moved the bill out of committee and to the full House for a vote expected to be made in the next week or so.

The state House Judiciary Committee voted last night to approve a civil-unions bill with amendments to ensure that the relationships are recognized in the tax code and are under the jurisdiction of family court. "It's still fast-tracked. I think the Senate now has the opportunity just to agree to these amendments that probably should have been considered when it was first passed," Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran (D, Kahului-Paia), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said after the 11-2 vote.

The Hawaii Senate has just approved its civil unions bill!

The Senate voted 19-6 for the bill Friday, sending it to the state House of Representatives for additional consideration. Hawaii would become the sixth state to grant some of the rights of marriage to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself. A civil unions bill also passed the Illinois Legislature last month. Democrats, who control the Hawaii Legislature, have said they plan to approve the bill quickly this year and send it to new Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his signature. Abercrombie has said he supports civil unions.

Suck it, Tony Perkins!

"Hawaiians are dealing with the same onslaught of bad bills they have become accustomed to in the last several years. A proposal to legalize civil unions, much like the one two years ago, barely passed its first big test in the Senate Judiciary Committee after almost three hours of debate. Like the 2009 fight, this one could hinge on how involved voters and churches are in defeating the legislation. People on both sides of the debate say a pro-marriage rally that drew 10,000 people was the turning point two years ago. Hundreds more showed up at the committee meeting and stayed until 3 a.m. After weeks of church phone calls and emails, the bill's sponsor killed the legislation herself. Let's hope history repeats itself! If you live in the islands, it's time to start making waves on marriage!"- Family Research Council head Tony Perkins, referencing 2009 but conveniently failing to mention that a civil unions bill actually passed in both Hawaiian chambers last year.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has nominated an openly gay woman to the state Supreme Court. Sabrina McKenna, 53, has spent the last 17 years as a family court judge.

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.

McKenna's confirmation hearing will coincide with the just-launched effort to pass civil unions in Hawaii, but legislators contacted for the above-linked story say that issue will not effect their assessment of her candidacy.

(Tipped by JMG reader Rick)

Hawaii's civil unions bill yesterday squeaked out of committee and advanced for a vote by the full state Senate.

Senate Bill 232 passed the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee by a 3-2 vote, after a hearing that lasted just over two hours. The bill now goes to the Senate floor for the second of three required votes by the full chamber. Sen. Clayton Hee, committee chairman, sought to keep the hearing moving by limiting testifiers to 1 1/2 minutes each, saying he did not believe anything material could be added to the discussion.

The bill may be introduced in the Hawaii House as early as today.

JMG reader Todd writes to tip us that the Hawaii Senate has just begun debating a civil unions bill. Newly-elected Gov. Neil Abercrombie has promised to sign the bill, should it reach his desk. Last year both chambers of the Hawaiian legislature approved a civil unions bill, only to have it vetoed by then-Gov. Linda Lingle. Story developing...