Hawaii Gay Marriage, 10 Years Later

By Advocate.com Editors

HAWAII MARRIAGE VIDEO SCREEN GRAB | Advocate.com

Hawaii was the first state to move toward same-sex marriage, in 1993, only to uphold a ban on it in 1999.

So how do the gay residents of Hawaii feel about same-sex marriage in 2009? Blake Hayes reports from the beaches of for Advocate.com.

POST COMMENT(7) EMAIL PRINT RECOMMEND

1 reader has recommended this story.

‹‹Previous Article in Category | Next Article in Category››

Reader Comments

Back to top Post a Comment
Name: KaimukiMan
Date posted: 11/23/2009 11:38:16 AM
Hometown: Honolulu

Comment:
This was a terrible waste of electrons. So you had some reporter who wanted to get a tax write-off on his Hawaii vacation. He spent a half hour on a weekday afternoon talking mostly to tourists, apparently did no background research, and then spent what, another 2 hours editing his story? No discussion of what happened in the years between the original court ruling and the constitutional amendment, nothing at all about the bill before the state legislature now, or what has happened in the intervening 10 years. At least he did get in some conversation with Jack Law, one of the most prominent gay business people in the state, but there wasn't even any discussion on what effects all this has had on gay tourism or other gay businesses.
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Kevin
Date posted: 11/22/2009 2:40:47 PM
Hometown: Ft. Myers

Comment:
Can anyone get their fucking numbers right? 30 states have banned marriage equality, not 31. Maine did not ban it, they just didn't legalize it. We have marriage equality in 5 states, not 4.
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Ken
Date posted: 11/22/2009 12:33:41 AM
Hometown: Boston

Comment:
So was this just an excuse for someone to go to Hawaii? Kind of simple analysis.
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: sam
Date posted: 11/21/2009 9:35:30 PM
Hometown: palm springs

Comment:
I will have to point out that 10 years ago when Gay rights advocates started pushing for "marriage" most states accepted the idea of domestic partnerships. The extreme advocates pushed so hard that a majority of States responded by banning Gay marriage in their Constitutions and a dozen more in their State statutes. If people think they are making progress by having 4 States that allow Gay marriage, I think that is a joke. That means 48 States are against.
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: John
Date posted: 11/21/2009 8:35:26 AM
Hometown: New York

Comment:
I really like what Blake broght to life here. I think its interesting especially all that is happening around the country with Marriage Equality. I think we still have a long way to go and I think its interesting to find out what residents of the first state who tried to legalize it have to say about all of it. Thanks Advocate for bring this up.
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Bill
Date posted: 11/21/2009 1:40:44 AM
Hometown: Lahaina, HI

Comment:
What a piece of non-reporting. No mention of HB444 on civil unions being shelved after thousands of Catholics and Fundamentalist Assemblies of God/Pentecostals staged rallies and packed the State Senate hearings. I went and haven't hears so much bigoted hatred in 15 years! My spouse and I (married in Massachusetts but nothing here in Hawai'i) had to get security to leave the building after being stalked by a big goon in a red shirt. Forget about Hawai'i being paradise; it is full of rednecks and religious nut cases. This is NOT a place to be gay. My brothers and sisters - spend your money elsewhere.
Back to top Post a Comment
Name: Blake Pearson
Date posted: 11/20/2009 8:13:59 PM
Hometown: New York

Comment:
I think Blake Hayes did a great job. He is a really good guy, and I am so happy to see that he is working with and reporting for The Advocate. He is dedicated and definatly helping fight our fight. Keep up the good work. And bring some Hawaii back to New York.

PREVIOUS 1 NEXT

More Online Only

Commentary What Massa Could Learn From Ashburn

COMMENTARY: Matthew S. Bajko says Republican California state senator Roy Ashburn deserves praise for coming out of the closet despite his antigay voting record. Now, if only former congressman Eric Massa would follow his lead.

Music The Truth About Tracy and Kim

Don’t be tardy for this party! DJ Tracy Young comes clean — mostly — about her rumored lesbian relationship with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak.

News Kids Say the Darndest Things

Micah Schraft and his boyfriend, John, were filming Micah's family at Thanksgiving when the 5-year-old son of a family friend wanted to know if the two were husbands. The result is a video you have to see.

Commentary The Importance of Being Counted

With benefits from boosting hate-crimes and marriage equality laws to simply letting legislators know gay Americans indeed exist, the 2010 Census is a chance to stand up and be counted.

Commentary How Many of Us Have Been Sen. Ashburn?

Sexologist Jallen Rix argues that gays and lesbians quick to condemn newly out senator Ashburn and his actions might want to take a good look at how they behaved before they came out.

Marriage Equality We Now Pronounce You ...

When Jonathan Howard and Gregory Jones found out Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest was open to couples holding commitment ceremonies, they entered. Now, they have a good shot at winning.

Music Matt Morris: An Ideal Husband

Singer-songwriter and Out 100 honoree Matt Morris talks RuPaul’s Drag Race, coming out to pal Justin Timberlake, and the big secret to being a successful gay artist.

Commentary Life on the G-List: Gym Actor Hours

David Moretti explains the pursuit of getting ripped for film, and doing it with the company of other actors while people with real jobs work.

News View From Washington: Showdown

The effort to end "don't ask, don't tell" heated up this week with the introduction of Senate legislation. But lawmakers are now facing off with the military over when to pass repeal.

DVDs Hot Sheet: Greek, Groove, and Alice

This week Greek wants you to think back to your frat days, Johnny Depp is looking to explore the Mad Hatter's Gay Days, and Little Boots goes after Gaga's gays.

Television Soapside: The Advocate's Guide to Daytime

Crystal Chappell on Venice finale, One Life’s Scott Evans on Fish being a baby daddy, All My Children’s Susan Lucci speaks to Bianca’s coming-out story, and big news from Eden Riegel.

Politics Perez Talks Prop. 8, HIV, and the Economy
John Pérez (left) became California's first openly gay assembly speaker on Monday. By Tuesday he was laying out his agenda for issues including HIV funding, jobs, and reinstating marriage equality in the Golden State.

News Features Soulforce: Riding for Justice

Twenty-eight youths set out to fight homophobia and other prejudices at Christian colleges in the fourth Soulforce Q Equality Ride.

Music Keeping Up With Ke$ha
The hard-partying “Tik Tok” singer lives up to her wild reputation with stories of a fantasy all-girl sleepover with Shakira and Sarah Palin, bashing critics of her bisexuality, and sharing her love of trans women.

Television Casting Dancing With the Gay Stars

NOM's Maggie Gallagher facing off with antigay Rep. Sally Kern? Neil Patrick Harris upstaging André Leon Talley? The Advocate makes its picks for the ultimate gay Dancing With the Stars lineup.

Art The Art of the Possible

Alex Blas joins hundreds of other artists for the four-day Manifest Equality event, an intersection of art and activism he says has the power to mobilize change. Check out his work here.

News "Ex-Gay" Group to Oversee Day of Truth

Exodus International, a religious-based organization and supporter of "conversion therapy" for gays and lesbians, takes the reins for a nationwide school event launched to counter GLSEN's Day of Silence.

News Features Madam Governor?

Kristin Davis, the madam who claims she arranged female escorts for former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, announced she's running for governor Monday on a pro–marriage equality, prostitution, and pot platform.

Books In the World of Boys

A straight Egyptian author writes about gay relationships in a positive way ... and overcomes discrimination and multiple rejections to publish a best seller poised for an English translation.

Photography Artist Spotlight: Kevin Amato

From sidewalk staring to street casting, photographer Kevin Amato says he finds beauty everywhere he looks.

Books Ellen DeGeneres Gets Her Toon On
Following in the footsteps of J.K. Rowling and Sarah Palin, Ellen DeGeneres is about to get the comic book treatment. Check out a preview here.

Film Kimberly Reed: Golden Boy Makes Good
Once a star high school quarterback, transgender lesbian filmmaker Kimberly Reed wants to march in your pride parade and wield her newfound power like Oprah. Just don’t ask about her genitals.

Commentary Yes to the Crown, No to the Queen

COMMENTARY: Jimmy Nguyen, the lawyer who defended Miss California USA against Carrie Prejean, says religious beliefs and an antigay platform are the new way to get your name known on the pageant circuit.

News The Advocate at the Olympics Part 2
OlympicsOrBust.com's Tyler and Charley get up close with athletes in Whistler, sit down with 1992 gold medalist Mark Tewksbury and whip up some Olympic spirit.