Date: 	Sat, 16 Sep 1995 21:46:30 -1000
From: Mia H H Lam <mial@hawaii.edu>
Subject: HAWAII, SEPT. 16 (fwd)


			HAWAII, SEPT. 16

	The Commission on Sexual Orientation and the Law held its
organizing meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 13.  The chair, former Congressman
(and former Lt. Governor) Tom Gill, set a friendly, even casual tone, and a
firm schedule was adopted for finishing the Commission's report prior to the
beginning of the 1996 Legislature in January.  All future meetings will begin
at 9:00 a.m. and adjourn by noon; if an agenda is not completed, the commission
will meet the following day at 9:00 am until noon as well.  Here is the
schedule of meetings:
Sept. 27:  Hearing on the benefits conferred by marriage which are
           currently denied to same-gender couples (thorough review of
           the Hawaii Revised Statutes, of which the 1994 Commission
           reviewed about 40%)
Oct. 11:   Decide on the benefits conferred by marriage which are
           currently denied to same-gender couples.  Hold hearings on
           the public policy reasons for possibly extending those benefits
           to same-gender couples.
Oct. 25:   Decide the public policy reasons for whatever benefits should
           be extended to same-gender couples.  Hold hearings on possible
           legislation to implement the public policy recommendations.
Nov. 8:    Draft legislation to recommend to the 1996 Legislature for
           implementing the public policy recommendations.  Draft a final
           report to the 1996 Legislature.
The odds have increased dramatically that this ambitious schedule will be
kept.

				Aloha!

				Tom Ramsey
				Secretary, Steering Committee
				Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project

P.S.  Donations to HERMP are tax-deductible and needed:  they may be sent
to GLCC/HERMP, 1820 University Ave., Honolulu, HI 96822.  HERMP is responsible
for paying the fees of the local attorney, Dan Foley, in the court case
Baehr v. Lewin (co-counsel in the case is Evan Wolfson, who is a staff
attorney for Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund---email EWLLDEF@aol.com).
      HERMP is organized as a project of the Gay and Lesbian Community
Center in Honolulu.  HERMP's phone numbers are (808)942-3737 (answering
machine) and (808)926-1000 (GLCC's fax line).  GLCC itself may be contacted
at (808)951-7000, which is answered by a receptionist 9-5, M-F.
      Significant political organization continues to be required to protect
Baehr v. Lewin from legislative interference.  Political donations are not
tax-deductible, and should be made to the Alliance for Equal Rights, 2139
Chamberlain St., Honolulu, HI 96822