Date: Thu, 12 Sep 96 15:31:54 HST
From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey)
Subject: HAWAII SEPT. 12

		DAY 2 OF THE TRIAL, BAEHR V. MIIKE


	The state's second witness was a sociologist, Dr. David Eggebean,
who is a demographer from Penn State University.  He was much more hostile
than the gentlemanly Dr. Pruett of the first day of the trial, and
eventually confessed under cross-examination to viewing homosexuality as
immoral based upon his beliefs as a Christian.

	Dr. Eggebean displayed extensive data that marriage has changed
dramatically since the depression of the 1930's in regards to persons
entering marriage, rate of divorce, rate of multiple marriages, birthrates,
children born out of wedlock, etc.  Heterosexual marriages are in increasing
trouble and need special state encouragement to provide the social ideal
of loving, biological parents raising their own children responsibly.
Much time was spent by Deputy Attorney General Eichor elaborating Dr.
Eggebean's opinion step-parenthood is statistically not as ideal as
biological parenthood.  Dr. Eggebean mentioned the story of Cinderella
as an archetype of the less-than-perfect reality of step-parenthood.

	Dr. Eggebean presented some evidence that gay and lesbian
relations were more unstable than heterosexual relationships.

	Evan Wolfson of Lambda Legal Defense Fund scored some major points
on a difficult and non-cooperative witness.  First, if gay and lesbian
relations were more fragile but often involved dependent children anyway,
wouldn't that argue for special state encouragement toward stability?
Under Wolfson's cross-examination, Dr. Eggebean admitted that
        a) it is actually beneficial for a society to have couples that
           marry without intending to produce children
        b) "institutional recognition of same sex marriage may help
           increase the risk of stability among some gay couples"
	   (the witness' very words!)
        c) gay/lesbian couples can and do make excellent parents
        d) He knew of no research that substantiated the notion that
           same-sex couples are unfit parents
        e) Real life children of same sex parents would benefit if the
           parents could receive state inxcome tax benefits, public assistance,
           file for non-support by the non-custodial parent,alimony,  have
           access to community property,  could file wrongful death of one of
           the parents, and if the parents could receive social status derived
           from marriage, etc.


					Best regards,

					Tom Ramsey
					h.e.r.m.p Co-Coordinator

SEE ALSO:
http://www.xq.com/hermp/
http://www.qrd.org/qrd/orgs/hermp/
http://www.tnight.com/hermp/
http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/hawaii/marriage.update/
http://www.hawaii.gov/lrb/solcvr.html
http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/legal/
http://nether.net/~rod/html/sub/marriage.html
http://www.well.com/user/davadam/hermp.html
http://www.eskimo.com/~demian/partners.html
 
      The Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project, h.e.r.m.p, is the sole support
of the work of Dan Foley on Baehr v. Miike.   Please be generous in support of
h.e.r.m.p; Hawaii is a small state!  Donations to h.e.r.m.p are fully
tax-deductible, and should be made out to
                     GLCC-HERMP
                     1521 Alexander Street, #503
                     Honolulu, HI 96822.
                        
      The h.e.r.m.p 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