Date: Wed, 27 Mar 96 22:06:50 HST From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey) Subject: HAWAII MAR 27 RELIGIOUS POLITICAL EXTREMISTS INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON HAWAII'S SENATORS "Hawaii's Future Today", with deep connections to leaders of the Mormon Church and the Roman Catholic hierarchy, has broadcast numerous messages on TV and radio, asking constituents to contact 13 Senators (listed by name) to "Let The People Decide" same-gender marriage. These 13 Senators are among the 14 who voted for Senator Graulty's domestic partnership bill (which passed the Senate 14 to 11, but is stalled in the House). Hawaii's Future Today wants two-thirds of the Senate to approve a constitu- tional amendment banning same-gender marriage, which would then be voted upon by the public in the fall election (requiring only a majority vote then). Simultaneously, 3/4 page ads were placed in Honolulu's daily papers with the same message, and demonstrations were staged on three islands (including Senator Graulty's district on Oahu). The three leaders of Hawaii's Future Today are working the Senate everyday, trying to pick off one vote or another [the three leaders are Debbie Hartman (formerly of the elected school board), Father Mark Alexander (chief theologian of the Roman Catholic diocese), and Jack Hoag (Mormon leader, member of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, former executive of First Hawaiian Bank)]. Demonstrators protested outside political fundraisers for Senator Matt Matsunaga Monday night (he was the only vote on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for creating same-gender marriage NOW by legislative act). More demonstrators picketed tonight (Wednesday night) outside a political fundraiser for Senator Avery Chumbley, one of the 4 person majority on the Committee on the Judiciary voting AGAINST a constitutional ban on same-gender marriage. HERMP may be holding its own in this struggle, but it's hard to tell. HERMP's part-time lobbyist, Tracey Bennett, is making the rounds of senators. HSTA, the state teacher's union, passed a resolution this week opposing any efforts to take civil rights away from people. The proposed constitutional ban on same-gender marriage would do this, since Hawaii's courts are poised to grant same-gender marriage under the present constitution. Will the stalemate hold? Tom Ramsey Co-Coordinator Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project P.S. Web sites for HERMP information: http://www.xq.com/hermp/ http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/hawaii/marriage.updates/ http://www.qrd.org/qrd/orgs/hermp/ http://www.tnight.com/hermp/ For the official report of the Commission on Sexual Orientation and the Law: http://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/solcvr.html For legal documents related to Baehr v. Lewin (now Baehr v. Miike): http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/legal/ which has a link to marriage and Baehr v. Lewin For national as well as Hawaii information: http://nether.net/~rod/html/sub/marriage.html http://www.well.com/user/davadam/hermp.html 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 Date: Wed, 27 Mar 96 23:14:34 HST From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey) Subject: HAWAII MAR 27 II A MESSAGE FORWARDED BY THE INTERIM BISHOP OF HONOLULU (EPISCOPAL) Some months ago, Rev. George Hunt forwarded to me a copy of a 1994 paper by Krister Stendahl, Emeritus Bishop of Stockholm and Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Divinity (Harvard, Emeritus). The paper was prepared for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. It is a superb example of the internal dialogue about sexuality which now engages the best minds (and hearts) within most of the Christian traditions. I will not reproduce the full article here, but I'll be happy to email a copy upon request. I personally have a mixed reaction to the paper. "Mutuality" and "fidelity" are proposed as key moral criteria for sexuality; both are worth exploring. Yet I am only too aware that "fidelity" might truly "fit" about 50 % of the population (the statistic is a guess!). It may be a brief historical anomaly that most people expect to get married. It certainly wasn't true in more impoverished times (e.g. the Middle Ages), and may be ceasing to be true right now. That, of course, does not preclude having an analysis of "married sexuality" for those whom it does fit. (I rather doubt though, that people sort themselves so neatly into categories appropriate to the analysis!) I have appended the final section of the paper. Tom Ramsey Co-Coordinator Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project From Krister Stendahl, 1994: 6. the obligatory and the gift It strikes me as of great significance that exactly in matters pertaining to marriage, divorce, celibacy, both the gospel material and Paul's teaching include a perhaps surprising caveat, a warning against what Jesus elsewhere speaks of as "they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulder, but they themselves will not move them with their finger." (Mr 23:4). When Jesus in Matthew's gospel restores the original intention of marriage without the divorce Moses was forced to allow for, Matthew has the disciples say "If such is the case of a man with a wife, it is not expedient to marry." Jesus' answer is "Not all can receive this word, but only those to whom it is given" (19:10-11). And the text continues with the famous words about celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, thereby breaking the dominance of procreation as governing sexual behavior. Here comes the same caveat: You cannot make it obligatory, or in Jesus' words, "The one who is able to receive it, let him receive it." (v 12). Also in Paul, who was much given to laying down the rules without ifs and buts, we find the same note when he witnesses to his preference for a celibate life for the Lord. "I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another." (1 Cor 7:7). For us Lutherans it should not be strange to listen to that note. The miseries and moral distortions of an obligatory celibacy was not an insignificant factor in Luther's work for reforming the Church. Thus, it cannot be right, biblical, Christian, or Lutheran to lay the obligation of celibacy on gays and lesbians as the only option for their sexuality, or perhaps we should say for their love. Date: Wed, 27 Mar 96 23:31:35 HST From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey) Subject: HAWAII MAR27 III NOW FOR SOME SUN AND FRIVOLITY A new web site in Hawaii may provide exactly what you need to plan your travels here: http://www.icchi.com/tourhi Telephone: (808) 261-3745 Fax: (808) 261-3765 CALL TOLL FREE: 1-800-994-0400 Mailing Address: Christopher Travel & Tours 134 South Kalaheo Avenue Kailua, HI 96734-2932 This web site is undergoing rapid evolution, but it will soon have images of charming B&B's, plus personal evaluations of service and quality. I've been searching for some time for someone who could answer all those questions about what does one DO in Kona after dark, (just a joke, S and C!!!), and I'd appreciate your feedback on whether this website is a good answer. Best Regards, Tom Ramsey HERMP Co-Coordinator