Date: Tue, 24 Sep 96 15:39:16 HST
From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey)
Subject: HAWAII SEPT. 24

			DAY 8 OF BAEHR V. MIIKE (SEPT. 19)

        The plaintiffs presented locally renowned pediatrician Dr. Robert
Bidwell as its 4th and final witness.  Dr. Bidwell is the Director of Adolescent
Medecine at Kapiolani Hospital For Women and Children (named after Queen
Kapiolani).  He is also director of the Department of Pediatrics at the University
of Hawaii, and serves as a  physician for the Sex Abuse Treatment Center.

        Dr. Bidwell  reiterated what the four witnesses for the state and three
witnesses for the  plaintiffs have said to date:  gays and lesbians do make good,
loving parents and children thrive as well in gay or lesbian homes as in heterosexual
households.  Dr. bidwell emphasized that to raise a healthy and well-adjusted child,
the child has the best chance in a loving, nurturing, safe, protected home where the
parents recognize the developmental needs of the child and facilitate that development.
In Dr.  Bidwell's professional opinion, gays, lesbians, and same-sex couples can and
do provide an optimal environment for raising children and are as capable as heterosexual,
adopted, foster, and biological parents.

        Dr. Bidwell discussed what adolescents experience regarding the sexual orientation
of their parents (teasing, ridicule, etc.) but that these issues are normal and generally
work themselves out very well.  Furthermore, "children may go through a rough time (although
most children do not) but that [ dealing with these issues] makes the child stronger and
tolerant of diversity".  The experience, while temporarily painful, does not manifest into
psychological damage or problems in adulthood. the parents' sexual orientation or gender
is irrelevent and does not hurt the health or development of the child.


			WHY THE FOCUS ON CHILDREARING?

	Because the burden of proof is on the state (to provide a compelling reason
to continue to discriminate against same-gender couples), the state chooses whatever
it finds compelling to discuss.  The Attorney General's office for Hawaii chose to
focus on childrearing.  We only have to counter their claims.  Furthermore, it is unwise
in court to bring in other issues, and we didn't.

	Why did the state focus on childrearing?  I have no idea, except political ones.
It obviously the most sensitive area politically.

							Best Regards,


							Tom Ramsey
							h.e.r.m.p

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