Date: Sun, 3 Mar 96 21:32:47 HST
From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey)
Subject: HAWAII MARCH 3

		CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSES FIRST
		   FLOOR VOTE IN HAWAII HOUSE, 41-7;
		SECOND HOUSE FLOOR VOTE SET FOR 9AM,
		   TUESDAY, MARCH 5

	Friday, March 1, operating under suspended rules, the Hawaii
House received a recommendation from it's judiciary committee of
a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and
a woman only.  After some floor debate, in which several representatives
objected vigorously and cogently, the House voted 41 to 7 to approve
the amendment.  This is well above the 2/3 majority needed to put a
constitutional amendment on the November ballot.  This is the so-called
"second reading" in the parliamentary procedure.  A third, and usually
final, "reading" will be held Tuesday, March 5, at 9 am.

	If the Constitutional amendment survives 3rd reading, the ball
moves into the Senate's court.  The Senate Committee on the Judiciary
has already voted AGAINST any constitutional amendment by a vote of 4 to 3.
The Senate is preparing to vote a domestic partnership bill on Tuesday
as well (the House Judiciary committee killed domestic partnerships by
a wide margin).  Now, eyeball to eyeball, ........ 

					Tom Ramsey
					Co-Coordinator
					Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage
					Project


P.S.  The Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project, HERMP, is the sole support
of the work of Dan Foley on Baehr v. Lewin (Foley is the attorney who makes
all court appearances on behalf of the plaintiff couples).  Please be generous
in support of HERMP; Hawaii is a small state, and the tiny gay and lesbian
community here is very active in advocacy work which HERMP cannot address.
Donations to HERMP are fully tax-deductible, and should be made out to
                     GLCC-HERMP 
                     1521 Alexander Street, #503
                     Honolulu, HI 96822.
 
      The HERMP branch in Kona, on the Big Island, has produced a T-shirt
for sale.  One can send a check for $17.50 to HERMP, P.O.Box 902, Captain
Cook, HI 96704, together with a note about being sent a T-shirt (S, M, L,
XL, XXL).  It is also available in a tank top.  The design is multi-color
on white.  A large triangle points down, with the letters h.e.r.m.p above
the triangle, some male-male, female-female symbols in the border of the
triangle and some palm trees.  To place an email order for T-shirts, or
to obtain more information, please email skippero@aol.com.  An image of
the T-shirt is available via the WEB on
       http://www.qrd.org/QRD/www/usa/maine/hawaii-tee.html

	Web sites for HERMP information:
For the official report of the Commission on Sexual Orientation and
the Law:
http://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/solcvr.html
For national as well as Hawaii information:
http://nether.net/~rod/html/sub/marriage.html
http://www.well.com/user/davadam/hermp.html


Date: Sun, 3 Mar 96 21:48:40 HST
From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey)
Subject: HAWAII MAR 3 II

		HAWAII CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURES

    There three ways to amend the constitution here.  All require a
majority vote in a general election.  Amemdments can be put on the ballot
by a 2/3 vote of both House and Senate, and by two other methods.
The other two methods require more time, and could not take place in time
to put this issue on the ballot for Fall, 1996.  If the 2/3 vote procedure
is successful, the popular vote will take place this year.

					Tom Ramsey
					Co-Coordinator
					Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage
					Project

P.S.
	Web sites for HERMP information:
For the official report of the Commission on Sexual Orientation and
the Law:
http://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/solcvr.html
For national as well as Hawaii information:
http://nether.net/~rod/html/sub/marriage.html
http://www.well.com/user/davadam/hermp.html