Date: Fri, 18 Apr 97 15:22:40 HST
From: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu (Tom Ramsey)
Subject: HAWAII APRIL 18

		THE HAWAII HOUSE AND SENATE
	                  COMPROMISE
                  ON SAME-GENDER MARRIAGE

	On April 16 the posturing ended when House and
Senate conferees agreed with a House version of a constitutional
amendment (HB 117, after many drafts) giving the Legislature the
power to over-turn the court case Baehr v. Miike (if that case
should be decided in favor of same-gender marriage).  Next stop:
first a floor vote by each House and then to the voters in the
General Election of November, 1998.  The governor has no veto power
over proposed constitutional amendments.

	The conferees also agreed to a weakened Senate version of HB 118,
giving about 60 rights to "reciprocal beneficiaries" effective July 1,
1997.  The Senate conferees demanded the July 1 date for implementation
and traded off health benefits.  The compromise bill gives health
benefits ONLY to state employees (who declare reciprocal beneficiary
status) and ONLY for two years.  HB 118 requires the governor's
signature.

	What next?  Marriage Project Hawaii will continue to pursue
the court case, perhaps to completion within 12 months (and before the
November 1998 vote).  Same-gender marriage supporters will regroup
and reorganize around fighting the Constitutional Amendment
vote.  For a day or two, we'll lick our wounds first!


				Best Regards,

				Tom Ramsey