Governor Lingle Vetoes Civil Unions Bill |
| HB 444 would have offered protections for all Hawaii’s families
HONOLULU – Today, a coalition of leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations in Hawaii denounced Governor Linda Lingle for vetoing HB 444, Hawaii’s Civil Union legislation. The bill provides that equal rights and responsibilities of married couples in Hawaii be afforded to thousands of non-married couples in the state – including same-sex couples. Coalition members include Equality Hawaii, the GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, the Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG-Oahu and Pride Alliance Hawaii.
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Human Rights Campaign Message to New York Marriage Equality Foes: "We’re Coming to Get You" |
| Campaign for New York Marriage Will Focus on Key Races
With the goal of closing the eight-vote gap blocking marriage equality in the New York state Senate, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) -- the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization -- sent a message to anti-equality incumbents and candidates alike -- "We're coming to get you."
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Hawaii Business Roundtable Revises Call For Veto of Civil Unions Bill |
| With nearly 20 HBR members now distancing themselves from original letter, executive committee revises remarks and drops call for veto
Washington – Today, the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Hawaii applauded the revised statement on the civil unions bill by the executive committee of the Hawaii Business Roundtable. After Gary Kai, Executive Director of the HBR, urged the Governor to veto the civil unions bill on behalf of the organization’s executive committee, nearly 20 HBR members distanced themselves from the letter, including some who came out in favor of civil unions. A copy of the new HBR letter is available at http://www.hrcbackstory.org/
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Fines Proposed Against Mormon Church for Prop 8 Campaign Finance Violations |
| Washington , DC– The Human Rights Campaign today hailed a proposal by the California Fair Political Practices Committee (FPPC) that would fine The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) for failing to report all of its late non-monetary contributions in its efforts to pass Proposition 8 in California in 2008. While the recommended fine of just more than $5,500 for the unreported late contributions of $36,968 to the Yes on 8 campaign may seem inconsequential, it represents a pattern of blatant disregard for California election laws and provides ongoing evidence that the Mormon Church was a significant leader in the campaign to repeal marriage equality, even while it evaded standard reporting requirements and denied its involvement.
HRC President Joe Solmonese also commended the efforts of Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate, for filing the initial FPPC complaint that has shed light on the anti-equality activities of the Mormon Church. The issue, scheduled to be discussed at its June 10th meeting, follows the January 2009 admission by the Mormon Church to the FPPC that it failed to report in-kind contributions to the Yes on 8 campaign of $190,000. Previously the Mormon Church had failed to disclose its real involvement in the Proposition 8 campaign, as California law required it to do.
"Thanks to Fred Karger's dogged pursuit of the truth, we now know the Mormon Church not only violated the law in its election work to pass Prop 8, it most likely did so purposely" said Solmonese. "It's just not credible that a multi-billion dollar, sophisticated organization like the LDS Church didn't know or understand the election law requirements. California requires early disclosure so voters know who's behind these referendum fights and clearly, the Mormon Church worked overtime to keep their full involvement hidden from the people of California."
A copy of the FPPC complaint is available at: http://www.hrcbackstory.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/LDS_FPPC-complaint_2008-0735.pdf
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. |
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Maryland Joins New York in Recognizing Out-of-State Marriages of Same-Sex Couples: Lambda Legal Applauds AG Opinion |
| "The Big Apple didn't topple after New York recognized out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples - far from it - and many families in Maryland just got more stability."
New York, NY- Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler issued an opinion saying that recognition of out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples is consistent with Maryland law. Lambda Legal applauds the opinion that follows similar analysis in other states like New York.
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