Date: Tue, 3 Dec 96 19:20:00 HST
From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey)
Subject: HAWAII, DEC.3

		VICTORY IS SWEET!

	Today Judge Kevin Chang ordered the State of
Hawaii to issue marriage licenses to same-gender couples.
The state is technically in default on the order already,
because the Department of Health turned away two couples
today.  Deputy AG Eichor is scrambling to get a stay of the
order pending an appeal of Judge Chang's ruling to Hawaii's
Supreme Court.

	Judge Chang's ruling is thorough, and found with the
three plaintiff couples on every point.  The decision runs to 50
pages of close attention paid to the evidence at the trial.  This
decision deserves high praise for its careful review.

	Judge Chang also awarded the three plaintiff couples court
costs (the costs of expert witnesses, depositions, photocopying, etc.
but NOT Dan Foley's fees nor Evan Wolfson's salary at LLDEF).  Since
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund bore the great brunt of the court
costs, most of the reimbursement will go to LLDEF.

	Attorney General Margery Bronster is out of town today, despite
advance notice of the pending decision.

	Victory is sweet!!!!!

					Best Regards,

					Tom Ramsey

P.S.  Of course, in the morning we h.e.r.m.p volunteers will wake up to
the fact that we owe tens of thousands of dollars on the court case itself,
and face opponents who are determined to amend Hawaii's Constitution to
over-turn this decision.  Please remember us in your celebration!

	Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to h.e.r.m.p, PO Box 11690,
Honolulu, HI 96822, to support the court case and the ongoing work of fighting
the AG's office.

	Non-tax-deductible contributions for intensive lobbying may be sent
to Friends of h.e.r.m.p, PO Box 11690, Honolulu, HI 96822.  Contributions to
Friends of h.e.r.m.p can also be made by telephone:  1-900-97-MARRY ($5
minimum, 18 yrs. or older; $25 maximum in all US area codes except 808).
900 charges appear on your phone bill.