Together Forever
WHERE ALOHA LIVES
Celebrate your nuptials where the romance of Waikiki all started. Pacific Beach Hotel offers an authentic local venue right on the beach for your special day.
Speak to a Wedding Specialist today: Call 808-921-6137 Email catering@pacificbeachhotel.com | PacificBeachHotel.com
12 December 2013 Volume 5 Issue 5
Community
4 22 24
President
Jade Le
Advertising & Marketing
217 Million Reasons for Marriage Equality Salvation Army: True Salvation People of the Year 2013
6 health
William Fernandez: (ph) 808-281-4084
Production
Technical & Web Development
7 tips
Kamele Eskaran Linda Giang Brandon Valdez
video & multi-media
4
Building Your Family
Rising Above Hate
Ana Medina Brittney Nitta-Lee Tina Ludewig
12
Contributing Writers Celia Dominguez, M.D. Flavia Francesquini Mickey Weems
Copy Editor
Marriage Equality in Hawai‘i
This is a story you will tell your grandchildren
Mickey Weems
Legal & Research
Glenn Honda, Esq.
Public relations
Ana Medina Kamele Eskaran Kimo Orlando PJ Delanoza Tiffany Sabado
Letters and unsolicited content may be sent to: E-mail: info@expression808.com Mail: Letters to the Editor eXpression! Magazine P.O. Box 22487 Honolulu, HI 96823
eXpression808.com // Entire contents copyrighted 2008–2013 eXpression! Magazine is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. eXpression! Magazine is published monthly in Hawai‘i and welcomes manuscripts, original works and various forms of expression for publication. eXpression! Magazine reserves publication rights to submitted materials. eXpression! Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials unless otherwise pre-agreed in writing. eXpression! Magazine does not take any financial or libel obligation to the content of its columnists. All materials submitted are consent to be original. All views and opinions are those of the writer and bear no implications on the opinions of eXpression! Magazine. Registered trademarks used within are hereby acknowledged, images and contents released and permitted. No implication regarding sexual orientation or preference is made in connection with any person, contributor, and or advertiser appearing in this publication.
14 facebook.com //
24
14 15 19
special section Best Quotes from Marriage Equality Supporters Best Quotes from Marriage Equality Opponents 15 Reasons for Opposing and Supporting Marriage Equality
twitter.com/expression808 Mission Statement
to inspire Hawai‘i’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community by featuring people contributing positively to society.
eXpression! Magazine welcomes letters that are concise (up to 150 words). eXpression! Magazine reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Letters and unsolicited content must be signed and include a daytime telephone number.
// December 2013 | 3
Community
Nearly a quarter of a billion dollars is a shot in the arm for any economy. It is approximately this figure that Dr. Sumner La Croix estimates will be spent every three years in Hawai‘i (72 million per year) as the result of same-sex marriage. La Croix came into the spotlight this July because of his research, co-authored by Lauren Gabriel, a law student at the University of Hawai‘i Manoa, on the positive economic impact that same-sex marriage would have on the state. He was brought before the Hawai‘i Legislature to testify in favor of marriage equality. We now bring him before the eXpression! readership. In laypeople’s terms, please explain your research. Our first task was to figure out how many Hawai‘i couples would marry during the first few years of marriage equality. After examining data from other states with civil unions and the U.S. Census, we estimated that 1,957 same-sex resident couples would marry during the first three years of marriage equality (2014-2016). This estimate was needed to accomplish our second task: Provide an estimate of how many spouses would elect to be covered as a spousal beneficiary on their spouse’s employer-provided health insurance. And the answer was less than 100. This is partly because civil unions already opened the door to spousal health insurance benefits and because more than 90% of Hawai‘i’s people already have health insurance. The third task was to estimate the additional tourism spending that would be triggered by weddings... Our estimate of additional tourism-related spending triggered by marriage equality – $217 million—is based on the large size of Hawai‘i’s existing marriage-honeymoon industry. 217 million dollars in three years: on what do you base such a large figure? The report’s spending estimates are based on the simple and very plausible assumption that once Hawai‘i enacts marriage equality,
4 |
// December 2013
by Mickey Weems photos JTL
the same factors that bring opposite-sex couples to Hawai‘i to celebrate their marriage will also attract same-sex couples. With the federal government now recognizing at least partial rights for gay couples in all 50 states, there will be a surge in marriages among same-sex couples over the next few months. For the sake of our conservative relatives and friends who are scared the economy will collapse, could you point out evidence to the contrary? Countries and states that protect the civil rights of their populations are more, not less, attractive destinations! There is no evidence that tourists stop visiting cities that enact gay rights or any other type of civil rights legislation. If that were the case, then tourism to Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, and New York City—all located in states with marriage equality—would have collapsed. How has your research on the minor economic impact of civil unions and significant economic impact of marriage equality been received in the LGBT community? Many people told me that my estimates of tourism spending triggered by a civil union law were just too low. The July 2013 report on the economic impact of marriage equal-
ity got the opposite reaction: now people asked why estimates of tourism spending triggered by marriage equality had increased so much. The answer is simple: Almost all of the increase was triggered by the Supreme Court’s DOMA and Prop 8 decisions. The Supreme Court’s decisions were that crucial for Hawai‘i? Yes. The Prop 8 decision was particularly important, because so many of our tourists come from California. With same-sex marriages resuming in California, the potential visitor market for same-sex couples coming to Hawai‘i to marry or honeymoon more than doubled. The Court’s DOMA decision also had a big impact on our tourism spending estimates. Federal recognition of same-sex marriages increased our estimate of how many U.S. same-sex couples living in marriage equality states would marry and extended the size of Hawai‘i’s same-sex marriage honeymoon market to same-sex couples from all 50 states. What was the best argument you heard against your research conclusions? That the report was way too conservative in its spending estimates. We didn’t consider potential spending by same-sex couples from outside the United States who will visit Hawai‘i to marry or honeymoon. And
spending by couples from Canada and New Zealand—two countries with marriage equality—could be sizeable. We also didn’t consider additional spending on weddings by Hawai‘i same-sex couples. What was the worst? One legislator mentioned that same-sex marriage would chill tourism from Indonesia! He argued that conservative Muslim tourists might avoid Hawai‘i due to their religion’s disapproval of homosexuality and samesex marriage. The argument conveniently ignores the fact that almost no Indonesian tourists currently visit and very few are expected in the next few years. Why is it so important that marriage equality happen as soon as possible? Our report found that much of the additional tourism spending stemmed from a temporary “pent-up” demand by same-sex couples to marry after the DOMA decision. We argued that if Hawai‘i legislators were eventually going to vote to approve marriage equality, it would be better to pass the law now and realize the additional tourism spending now rather than pass the law in three years and find that the additional “pent- up” economic benefits were lost forever: diverted to other states with marriage equality. You worked on marriage equality back in 1998, and civil unions from 2004-2011. What has changed? Maybe it’s all due to the success of Modern Family, where the gay couple has the same trials and tribulations as the two straight couples, and might even be slightly more sane. Or maybe it’s that people in the center of the political spectrum are perceiving the demand by gay and lesbian couples to marry as a fundamentally conservative impulse that mirrors their own attitudes towards marriage.
// December 2013 | 5
health
by Celia Dominguez, M.D.
Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute
Building a family can be challenging for samesex couples, and understanding the options available is critical. Gay Males
Lesbian Females Lesbian couples require donor sperm exposure to get pregnant. Exposure can occur by placing sperm within the vagina, through the cervix (intra cervical insemination) or into the uterus, or with advanced reproductive assistance, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Natural pregnancy rates are the highest when women are of young reproductive age (18-27) and unfortunately reduce with aging. There is no need for concern with females in their 30s. If a given female has never had sperm exposure, is cycling regularly with respect to her menstruation and has open fallopian tubes, a diagnosis of infertility based solely on age can lead to over-treatment by a physician. Insemination alone is successful in some of these women, with no need for fertility medications. One is not infertile just for requiring help in reproduction that many same-sex couples would need.
6 |
// December 2013
One is not infertile just for requiring help in reproduction that many same-sex couples would need. Help in achieving a pregnancy with infertility medications or IVF should be reserved where there is a concern about either eggs or fallopian tubes. If a female has irregular periods, a history of sexually transmitted disease, endometriosis (indicated by painful periods) or has previously had unprotected heterosexual sex with no pregnancy: more than simple insemination may be needed. Also if any pelvic or abdominal surgery has occurred, scars can form and lead to blockage of the fallopian tubes.
IVF requires working with a reproductive infertility specialist. As women age, their eggs diminish with the ticking of the biological clock, but their uterus actually does not age significantly. Pregnancy, even into the 50s, can be achieved with the use of donor eggs through IVF.
Unlike the concerns we have with the female biological clock, male couples having a low sperm count is not such a limiting factor. Sperm can be extracted from the epididymis of men who have had a vasectomy. As long as a few live sperm are found, fertilization (sperm and egg joining) is possible in an in vitro setting. Working with an IVF team is required to coordinate obtaining donor eggs, combining them with sperm and finally transferring into the uterus of a surrogate recipient. Given the use of a donor and surrogacy agency, this process can be coordinated well and is fairly successful in helping male couples build their family.
Dr. Celia Dominguez is recognized as an expert in the field of reproductive medicine, in vitro fertilization and laparoendoscopic surgery, and is a physician at Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute.
tips
by Flavia Francesquini, certified life coach and wellness counselor
Words help us fall in love, defend our children, track our history and keep memories alive. Words can also destroy, humiliate and separate Recently, we had a chance to see just how powerful words can be. During the SB1 marriage equality hearings in which our human rights were put to vote: Words exploded, bounced the walls, and just like stray bullets, they sometimes ricocheted against the soft spots in our psyches. As each opposing person stepped up, we were forced to stand strong: as their statements ripped through the layers of confidence some of us have worked so hard to build.
Abomination. Abnormal. Sick. Pedophiles. Ungodly. Sinners. So many were the words that hurt, that I feared we would not be able to stand our ground. Yet each time one of our allies stood in our defense, each time one of us stood proud and eloquent: we restored our fiber, we returned to our natural state of perfection. In the end, words of wisdom and kindness outweighed words of hate and ignorance, and we walked away stronger and inspired. If you are struggling to overcome the hatred that was directed at our community, or if you are fighting against a flow of negativity in your personal life: Keep in mind that although everyone is entitled to an opinion, it does not mean that it applies to your reality. And remember this: Your fabulous self is a mystery to some, and people fear what they can’t understand. Since fear is the basis for negativity, it’s not surprising that so much of what we hear can have a negative impact in our wellbeing. Surround yourself with positive, loving people, and believe in love before fear. Believe in the law of attraction As hard as it is to keep from retaliating when under attack, by maintaining a positive frame of mind we will attract
similar sentiments. There is something to be said about good vibes: you attract them when you send them out into the world. Take a moment to reflect upon all the wonderful things that exist or that have happened because of you. Don’t be afraid to take credit for the good things you have done – whether it’s a strong political stand, or a bag you carried for an elderly neighbor. Lead by example As Gandhi has so eloquently suggested, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Leave the hate behind and let’s show those who claim not to know who we are, that we know a thing or two about what it’s like to live in harmony. Turn to each other Let us demonstrate we are capable of peace, of love, of faith, of joy, and of forgiveness. Let us remember that we are made of stars. Let us show the community at large how to use words to heal, to build, to unite, to evolve, and to rise above adversity. Seeds of growth Let us tell the children in our lives that they are safe to be who they are, and let us use carefully chosen words so that they shall never raise their voices against others, but always in defense of those who need it. There is so much hope at the end of our rainbow.
// December 2013 | 7
Modern American Cuisine All Day Dining, All Night Socializing
BREAKFAST
LUNCH
DINNER
LATE NIGHT
Grind or Dine Celebrate Marriage Equality. Proud to be the 15th state. Bring this ad and receive ½ off your selection from our new appetizer menu with purchase of each entrée. Hilton Waikiki Beach
exp-jan
8 |
// December 2013
2500 Kuhio Avenue | 808.921.5564 | mac247waikiki.com | hiltonwaikikibeach.com
WAIKIKI BEACH ON KUHIO
Cover S to ry
This is a story you will tell your grandchildren.
The cleansing rains have arrived. Every year, Hawai‘i welcomes the Makahiki, the wet season: a time to put aside old grudges, to forgive, to be renewed. Torrential downpours are sure signs of the Makahiki. One such storm hit Honolulu on the weekend after the Hawai‘i House of Representatives passed marriage equality bill SB1-HD1. Millions of raindrops fell on the Capitol, washing away any lingering hurt and resentment that remained after 57 hours of mostly anti-gay testimony given within the statehouse, and eight days of anti-gay protests outside on the statehouse grounds.
On Tuesday November 12, the sun burst forth and the Senate passed SB1. The next day was even more beautiful as Governor Neil Abercrombie signed into law the most significant LGBT rights legislation Hawai‘i has ever seen. The struggle for marriage equality worldwide began right here in the Islands. In 1993, the Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruled that discrimination against gay people was unconstitutional, which led to massive backlash. In 1998, hate united with fear and won: A referendum held on same-sex marriage was overwhelmingly against it, and the Legislature passed a law defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman. But the 1998 law was not designed to be
by Mickey Weems
the last word. It allowed the Legislature to gradually open the door to civil unions, then full marriage equality, at some future date, which has finally arrived with the 2013 Makahiki rains. The special session called by the Governor in the two weeks between October 28 and November 13 was the result of hard work spanning two decades, and a collective change of heart. Not all hearts changed. Powerful religious institutions spent millions to revoke the Hawai‘i Supreme Court’s original decision in 1993, then millions more against civil unions in 1998. As before, homophobic church leaders whipped their supporters into a mass panic in their efforts to bring the bill to a screeching halt.
// December 2013 | 9
Cove r S tory
The Warm-Up Monday, October 28, 2013
“The strategy of anti-equality forces was clear: create the appearance that the vast majority of citizens were against the bill.”
Monday October 28 was the first day of the special session on SB1. The Hawai‘i Senate heard one-minute testimonies – busloads of churchgoers from houses of worship such as New Hope were brought in to testify against the bill, and most of them also testified against the gay community for good measure. These were the first of an onslaught of anti-LGBT prayers, lies, insults and threats: all recorded and broadcast across Hawai‘i by ‘Olelo TV. The strategy of anti-equality forces was clear: create the appearance that the vast majority of citizens were against the bill. Protesters rallied at the statehouse and the grounds of nearby ‘Iolani Palace, invoking traditional marriage between
one man and one woman as a Native Hawaiian value that was undermined by outsiders. They hailed the sound of thunder booming from an afternoon cloudburst as God voicing his disapproval of SB1. During that same day, a proequality rally at the statehouse drew a decent crowd, but the numbers faded with sundown. I went by the Capitol that Monday night and saw only opponents to the bill. I soon found out why: The crowd was boisterous and aggressive – LGBT people and their allies did not feel safe in such an environment. On the second day of the special session, that pattern was repeated: A tiny pro-equality presence waving signs on Beretania Street during the day, but none past 7:30 pm. Our people feared for their safety after dark. Inside the statehouse was a different story. Members of a pro-equality crew grit their teeth and sat through the long hours of negative testimony, making sure legislators saw that some people were for the bill. Three days after the session began, Halloween brought forth a dedicated pro-equality group that stayed well after sundown. LGBT supporters steadily grew in numbers and stayed later in the days and nights that followed. No longer did fear of bullies keep them away. I visited the Capitol every day of the special session. Two pro-equality people were always there: Michael Golojuch, Jr. and Shawna Okami. They brought signs, flags, tables, and provided food and drink for anyone who asked. Golojuch and Okami also kept an eye out for bad behavior from the opposition.
10 |
// December 2013
Cover S to ry
like a tree planted by the water Wednesday, November 6, 2013 The real action started with 40 preachers on Wednesday morning. There they were, most of them representing Christian denominations, holding a press conference in the rotunda. Their message was simple: not all people of faith are against same-sex marriage. The opposition got wind of them, and the press conference was disrupted by those who considered themselves real Christians, upset that any religious leader would dare contradict what they considered their own special turf: the will of God. It was a classic case of in-group purification, the tendency for humans to be especially harsh with those in their tribe who step out of line. The opposition chanted, pushed, got in people’s faces – statehouse security did nothing to stop the charge. The beleaguered ministers stood firm, joined hands and sang until the disrupters stopped. Some 12 hours later, this scenario would be repeated on a much larger, more threatening scale.
rotunda of the Hawai‘i statehouse was a mess. Hundreds of traditional marriage advocates chanted for hours as they looked down through the large glass windows at the legislative chamber for the House of Representatives. A small contingent of marriage equality supporters remained on the periphery. Ugly came out again at sundown: protestors refused to let any supporters of the bill anywhere near the windows. All
the representatives could see and hear from the chamber were those who advised them to “kill the bill.” The noise in the rotunda was deafening. Young Christians beat their own signs bearing the slogans they chanted. The gays-and-allies presence was a blip compared to the much larger crowd mustered by fiery ministers from churches as far away as La’ie. But there were
instances of brilliant resistance: Alizabeth Wong Dock accessorized a rainbow flag and danced hula to the rhythms pounded out by the anti-equality crowd. Queenie Toilolo stood up, faced her opponents and sang “She Keeps Me Warm” with the voice of an angel. The rest of the pro-equality crowd joined her, triggering a short break from the racket as protestors paused and listened to gay people, perhaps for the first time.
By Wednesday night, the
our onipa‘a moment When the announcement was made that the bill would move forward to a third and final reading at around 9 pm, the marriage equality group broke into applause, which infuriated the other side. The thin veneer of public decorum crashed down on rotunda concrete as hundreds of “warriors for Christ” surged around the small group of perhaps 50 rainbow-waving people that stood as near to security as possible. Angry men and boys pushed forward into their opponents’ modest space, yelling at the top of their lungs, attempting
to shout down those who were pleased by the result. The applause did not stop. The rage of those anti-equality guys was palpable. Nothing was in place to keep them from shoving pro-equality supporters out of the rotunda except for pitifully few security personnel (who once again did nothing) and a couple of journalists armed with video cameras. A greater force than a handful of security guards and video cameras countered the mob’s rage:
the pro-equality group refused to budge. They were living the motto of King Kamehameha V and Queen Lili’uokalani: Onipa‘a, “immovable, motionless, steadfast, resolute.” When pushed, they did not yield. This was our Stonewall, Hawaiian style: no violence, just onipa‘a in response to the aggression of our oppressors. Gathered in a tight knot, SB1 supporters continued to applaud in the faces of the chanters. Tensions rose. A lone anti-equality preacher stepped in and pleaded for his
people to back off – his flock was fired up and it took a few minutes before they listened to him. Eventually, reluctantly, they relented. One young man, however, was not done. He faced us and silently rebuked us by repeatedly giving the Nazi salute: No doubt, unaware that the concentration camps also held men and women accused of being homosexual. Marriage equality people formed a circle, sang “Hawai‘i Aloha,” and went home. Gays and allies left together in tight groups: none of them walked alone. // December 2013 | 11
Cove r S tory
12 |
// December 2013
Cover S to ry
// November 2013 | 13
cove r story
Best Quotes From Marriage Equality
They scream, we dance Friday, November 8, 2013 On Thursday November 7, the House of Representatives took a break and would resume the next morning. Hawai‘i United for Marriage and supporters were at the Capitol by 6 am Friday, setting up tents and greeting supporters of the bill. After the physical and verbal harassment LGBT people had suffered on Wednesday, two distinct areas were created and security was beefed up considerably. In front of the Capitol, a duck tape line extended from the Father Damien statue to the curb, splitting the area in two. One side was for people against the bill, and one side for marriage equality supporters. Make no mistake: it was for our safety. The House chamber’s public gallery was split into two equal sections of 90 seats apiece. Two separate lines were set up for entry into the chamber, and a barricade was set up to keep
protestors further away from the big windows looking into the chamber. All of these measures were in place to control what once again became an unruly Christianist mob after sundown. By 8 am, the line for proequality supporters to get into the House chamber was substantial. Maybe a quarter of that number was on the other side until after 10 am, but the opposition’s numbers would increase dramatically by the afternoon. Once they had enough people, the bullying commenced in earnest, but was hampered by law enforcement and the clearly defined areas set aside for each group. This forced the opposition to focus its spite on the representatives inside the chamber. On the pro-equality side, a DJ was set up next to the refreshment tent. Music poured forth as people socialized and waved signs for the next 15 hours. Initially, the opposition was fairly sedate, doing their prayer thing and acting as true Christians should. Sometime after the
14 |
// November 2013
Supporters “From a Hawaiian perspective, this is nothing but the expansion of aloha.” - Senator Kalani English on marriage equality.
“Oh dear, you are confusing molecular science with ancient history.” - Geneticist Dean Hamer in response to Representative Bob McDermott’s assumption that “rampant homosexual“Remember... The Majority Voted ity” in classical Greece and Rome was to Keep Me a Slave!” - Sign held by proof that same-sex orientation is not Amee Enahh, an African American pro- an inborn trait. equality supporter, in response to the opposition’s call to “Let the People Vote.” “Hewa! [Wrong!] Hewa!” - Yelled at Representative Richard Fale by UH “Compassion embraces everybody, Manoa student Kamahana Kealoha excludes nobody.” - Marriage equality from the House gallery, in response to supporter Reverend Blayne Higa of the Fale’s complaint that the bill divided Pacific Buddhist Academy. the community. “It got a bit ugly. We had to sing all verses of ‘Amazing Grace’ to outlast them.” - Reverend Walter Brownridge of Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, concerning the protesters who disrupted the press conference held by 40 religious leaders in favor of SB1. “There was a pattern to the testimonies against us. They said they loved us, and you let your guard down. Then they attacked us for who we are. By the next morning, you felt you’d been beaten up.” - Jo-Ann Adams on the agony of sitting through thousands of testimonies condemning the LGBT community.
“I assume the chanting would resume when somebody went upstairs.” - Representative Cindy Evans. The “somebody” was Representative Richard Fale, who had just rushed outside the House chamber to fire up the antiequality crowd just before Evans spoke. Sure enough, the chanting resumed after Evans uttered those words. “People criticize the timing, but it is never the wrong time to do the right thing.” - Representative Chris Lee “.................................” - The eloquent silence of Senator Clayton Hee, words failing him during the signing ceremony. The crowd then cheered him and brought his voice back.
cover story “And they challenged your committee members, Mr. Speaker: ‘Would you wish homosexuality upon your own kids?’... If the gay lifestyle they’re referring to pertains to these brave people boldly standing in the face of hate... if that’s how my gay children will be like, then hey, sign me up. I’ll take three.” - Representative Kaniela Ing “I can guarantee I’m not the sole Republican in our community that supports marriage equality.” - Representative Cynthia Thielen, the only Republican legislature in Hawai‘i to support SB1. “The utterances of Lono, the awe of the thunder, the electric temper of lightning ushering in the rain... Long live the legacy of the sacred sun, the precious day of the aikane [people in same-sex relationships], of the mahu...” - Translated from the oli, the chant given in Hawaiian by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, to bless the signing ceremony for SB1. When she chanted “mahu” or Hawaiian transpeople, the crowd cheered. Hina smiled. “All those who have been invisible, will be visible to themselves and the whole world.” - Governor Abercrombie, just before signing the bill into law.
session started, they put aside civility, resumed their loud chanting and beat their signs. It was 12 hours of racket that only paused when they sang, preacher was rallying them, or when they knew an anti-equality representative was speaking in the chamber. While the opposition yelled, we danced. Early that morning, one antiequality extremist in a loud orange shirt could not help himself. He stood just on his side of the duck-tape line at the curb, waving a sign that said, “Go And Sin No More,” reading from his Bible and telling his LGBT sisters and brothers they were in danger of eternal hellfire. The marriage equality people did their best to ignore him. Two security officers stood by and watched.
After the hater showed no sign of letting up (he’d been at it for over an hour), I went over to the officers and said, “This guy is facing our people and shouting at them. Shouldn’t you tell him to face the other way if he wants to preach?” “It’s his right to freedom of speech,” I was told. Those
security officers were about as active in enforcing the peace as the Father Damien statue behind them. After I insisted that the orangeclad man’s rights did not include telling people to their faces they were going to hell, the officers went over and told him to stop – I stood right there so that the
A Snorkeling
Paradise
All photos taken from the Kai ‘Oli‘Oli.
WHALES - DOLPHINS - SNORKELING SIGHT SEEING - ADVENTURE
Whale Watch December – April
Scan & Watch Our Video
CALL (808) 677-1277 Toll Free: 1-888-677-1277 www.OceanJoyCruises.com // December 2013 | 15
cove r story
Best Quotes From Marriage Equality
opponents
man knew exactly who called him out, and to make sure law enforcement officers did their job. He then complained that the officers were being unfair – the other side was playing loud disco songs.
constant chanting and screaming. The LGBT community decided to let the House of Representatives know, visually and audibly, that the deafening cacophony was coming from one side only.
The officer went to the DJ and asked him to turn down the sound system. An hour later, dance music was louder than before, and no Bible-waving extremists were yelling insults across the Damien Line.
At 2:30-3 pm, Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu gave a speech by the pro-equality refreshment tent. She told the crowd not to retaliate when people from the other side cussed, spit and shoved. After the speech, she hugged a group of her trans sisters: all of them crying.
From 10 am on, both crowds under the rotunda increased, but only one side resorted to
16 |
// December 2013
“I love gay people!” - Representative Bob McDermott to eXpression! Magazine. McDermott tried every legislative trick in the book to shoot down the bill. He also appeared to support the idea of gay men with AIDS as a valid reason to oppose marriage equality.
“You would have to kill me.” - Tenari Maafala, President of Hawai‘i’s police union, during public testimony. Maafala said he would rather die than enforce marriage equality, although he did not specify how a police officer would be expected to enforce the new law.
“I’m not here to promote your pride.” - Representative Jo Jordan, interviewed by Honolulu Magazine to marriage equality supporters who asked for her help. Jordan came out as lesbian on the House floor, then voted against SB1.
“We were told that if we provide these options [civil unions and reciprocal benefits in 2011], the LGBT community, they would be satisfied. Have the people of Hawai‘i not done enough? We gave you your civil unions. We gave you your reciprocal benefits.” - Representative Karen Awana rewriting history. She did not give the LGBT community anything in 2011: Awana voted against civil unions and reciprocal benefits.
“If Jack, Frank and Mary are in a loving relationship and were all for marriage equality, then why aren’t the three of them covered in SB1? Why can’t they get married?” - Senator Mike Gabbard, concerned about the threat of bisexual threeway marriage.
“You want one civil war, brah?” Anti-equality protester to proequality Representative Tom Brower.
“The momma bears are demanding, ‘Protect our kids.’” - Representative “This issue has brought out the Gene Ward, making sure that ugly in our society.” animals’ concerns were addressed. - Representative Sharon Har Besides representing momma bears who feared that homosexual propaganda in schools would corrupt their cubs, Ward also warned about a “camel nose in a tent,” and constantly repeated “loosie goosie.”
epic fale Friday afternoon saw an increase in volume and hostility from opponents under the rotunda. Some of them attempted to break into the ranks of bill supporters, but were stopped by security. Their ire increased after sundown. For at least a full hour before the vote, anti-equality chanters and sign-beaters hit a feverish pitch. Every time the doors to the chamber for the House of Representatives were opened, the unfiltered noise blasted the chamber like something out of a horror movie, as if the Capitol had been invaded by people possessed by demons. The House chamber had drama of its own. One representative in particular, Richard Fale, regularly left his seat on the House floor to dash outside and rally the opposition. Despite complaining that the bill was responsible for causing a terrible rift between the LGBT community and people of faith, a rift that hurt him deeply: Fale made it a point to make things worse. His physical exertions caused the tips of his shirt collar to turn up, an amusing manifestation of his lack of dignity. Fale’s up-anddown antics inspired pro-equality Representative Cindy Evans to call him out on the House floor for his inappropriate behavior. Outside, things were getting out of hand. What had previously been a rowdy bunch was steadily morphing into a hysterical mob. The fact that they had become a threat to SB1 supporters was confirmed for me by the behavior of statehouse personnel: I sought to leave when I knew the bill would pass, but security at the door refused to let me out. Those men were grim, visibly agitated as they listened to instructions from those outside to Co n t i n u e d o n pag e 2 0
// December 2013 | 17
18 |
// December 2013
special section
Opposing Marriage Equality It will hurt tourism and deprive Hawai‘i of revenue Homosexuality is a choice It destroys Native Hawaiian culture Ministers will be forced to conduct same-sex marriages Let the people decide Why be in such a hurry? A child needs a mother and a father Gay parents abuse their children: it’s a fact Schools will teach kids how to be homosexual Homosexuals are just like Nazis It’s Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve It’s evil because it’s not Christian Sex acts, described in detail AIDS, AIDS, AIDS Gay families would be considered just as good as straight families
Supporting Responses
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
It will increase tourism and bring in cash for Hawai‘i Same-sex desire is like rhythm: you have it or you don’t It supports Native Hawaiian values for mahu and aikane Ministers won’t be forced to conduct same-sex marriages Let the people decide who they want to marry Justice delayed is justice denied: 20 years is long enough Children need loving parents: straight or gay Don’t believe everything: even a scholar tells lies for money Schools should portray gay people as normal Nazis were (and are) anti-gay Jesus has two dads Tell that to our Buddhist/Daoist/ Jewish citizens What’s with the perverse obsession with sex acts? Just stop: Marriage equality is the right thing to do Yes, gay families would be just as good as straight families
// December 2013 | 19
Cove r S tory
Special Thanks to the legislatures in support of marriage equality and members of Hawai‘i United for Marriage: community leaders, volunteers and the LGBT community and its allies. Visit www.expression808.com for videos and photos highlighting the special session for marriage equality.
hawai‘i Aloha Tuesday, November 12 and Wednesday, November 13, 2013 Makahiki rains scrubbed the Capitol clean during Veteran’s Day weekend after the House passed SB1. Tuesday morning, the date when the Senate would pass the bill, was beautiful. But the downpour did not succeed in eliminating all spite. Somebody stole all the Hawaiian flags from pro-equality activists.
After a couple hours of speeches from both sides, the Senate approved the changes to SB1 made by the House. Outside of the Senate chamber, jubilant supporters of the bill celebrated, this time without any bullying from the opposition, which limited itself to speeches and prayer within its own sector of the rotunda.
Co n t i n u e d f r o m pag e 1 7
keep us inside until they could guarantee our safety from the fury of those who lost. Keep in mind there was a 40-foot gap between protestors and supporters, armed security, and metal barriers in place to keep the two sides apart. Our physical safety upon leaving the chamber should never have been an issue. At that very moment, Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu and her mahu sisters linked arms with supporters to form a living barrier on our side of the gap, directly facing the shrieking mob as to prevent a charge from the other side. Opponents would not be not allowed to bully as they had done only two days prior. This time the pro-equality singing was louder and the joy even greater as the crowd realized the worst of it was over, that we had won. As with Wednesday night, supporters left together to prevent any unpleasantness with the opposition.
20 |
// December 2013
Governor Abercrombie signed the bill in front of an invitation-only crowd less than 24 hours later. Security was intense, but the joy expressed by the LGBT community and its supporters was even more so. The next day, a challenge to block the new law was rejected by Judge Karl Sakamoto. More challenges will follow. In the mean time, Makahiki rains will continue to bless the Islands as we enjoy the Season of Lono, a once angry god who repented from his wrath and turned to peace. May we all follow his example. Mau ke aloha no Hawai‘i – keep up the love.
Waikiki Plantation Spa “Thet only penthouse spa in the Hawaiian Islands”
Mention this ad for a complimentary Indigenous Soap when you book a service with us!
Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach 2335 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu HI, 96815
866/808.926.2880 www.waikikiplantationspa.com
// December 2013 | 21
Community
There is no season like the holiday season. Stores launch the traditional barrage of colorful lights and kitschy decorations associated primarily with Christmas, with the occasional nod to Hanukkah. There is one traditional sound that consistently competes with “Mele Kalikimaka” in shopping centers across Hawai‘i: the clang-clang-clang of handbells rung by Salvation Army personnel as they call us to drop a dollar or two into their red buckets. The last couple years, many people in the LGBT community have soured to the sound of the bells. Three damning stories circulated on the internet: A report that, during the George W. Bush Administration, the organization actively worked against LGBT employee rights; A Salvation Army official from Australia said that gay people deserve to die; and a woman was fired for being bisexual. A closer look at these incidences reveals that they were not as serious as they were portrayed to be: The Salvation Army no longer has an official policy of discrimination against the LGBT community when hiring. While the
Australian official was not exactly gay-friendly, he did not just up and say gay people should die - he was repeatedly asked about a bible verse from Paul that implies gays should die, and he reluctantly confirmed that The Salvation Army believes in the validity of scripture, including that verse. The bisexual woman who was fired refused to sign off on the employee handbook, which included some vague statements concerning conduct that could be used against LGBT employees. But she was not fired because she was bisexual. Those who work with Hawai‘i’s poor, including the LGBT poor, rely on the Salvation Army to help. One source that works with at-risk LGBT youth (and who wishes to remain anonymous) told eXpression! that the Salvation Army has been crucial as a go-to organization to help LGBT kids: providing them with services, self-help programs and networking. With that in mind, eXpression! contacted Major John Chamness of The Salvation Army in Hawai‘i to speak in defense of his organization. He first talked about the Australian incident that triggered the firestorm of negative opinion. “What that person said is not the official position. We’ve had a longstanding tradition of proving that.” The Salvation Army apologized for the incident immediately after it happened almost two years ago, he said – by now, it should be a non-issue. “We’ve apologized for that a
22 |
// December 2013
by Mickey Weems
hundred times,” he added. “Hopefully, we will not have to apologize a hundred times more.” This does not mean that The Salvation Army will be marching in a Pride Parade anytime soon: “The Salvation Army affirms that marriage is the voluntary and loving union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others,” he stated categorically, but added that they do not discriminate against those seeking help because of identity or who they love. “When people come to us for help, we don’t ask who they are or what they are – we just help people. The Salvation Army does not discriminate in the delivery of any of its services. As long as we have the resources to help, we will do our best to help.” This ethic of nondiscrimination extends to hiring practices as well. “We do not discriminate in terms of employment. We hire or try to hire the best candidate for the job.”
Chamness addressed the issue of employee benefits, including health coverage, in Hawai‘i: “For full time employees, The Salvation Army pays the major portion of employees’ health insurance including medical, dental and vision benefits. Employees also may purchase dependent coverage at their own expense. In general, a dependent means your spouse or domestic partner and your unmarried children, including: stepchildren and children of a domestic partner.” Is there any difference in coverage between straight households and LGBT households? “There is no difference in the policy or coverage. Our insurance is equally extended to employees and if they so choose to add their spouse or domestic partner, then they can.” For Major Chamness, the bottom line is not enforcing dogma, but rather aiding the downtrodden. “We help about 2,200 people a year with drug and alcohol issues. We have programs for runaway kids.” When asked about what they do locally, he gave an example of their work in Honolulu: “We do a lot of outreach in Chinatown, taking food and helping people to find programs to assist them.” Chamness provided eXpression! with these figures: Total meals served annually
503,000
Clothing distributed
36,547
Children served
30,623
Toys distributed
62,399
Persons receiving drug and alcohol treatment
2,217
Total persons served
134,361
1 in 10 people in Hawai‘i served by The Salvation Army last year alone. The Salvation Army does indeed have a checkered past with regards to our community, but they appear to have made significant changes since the Australian interview incident. Until more serious allegations against them surface here in the Islands, perhaps it is time the LGBT community inquires about the good they do rather than the bad they have done.
// December 2013 | 23
Community
LGBTs featured in eXpression! 2013
Cathy Kapua makes changes of her own by going out in the streets and bringing information and resources to the transgender community. Her commitment to education and prevention of HIV is awesome.
by Flavia Francesquini
Considering the events this year, it’s auspicious that we started 2013 by introducing Evan Wolfson, an advocate of our right to marry who was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In January he urged us to take a stand: “There’s no marriage without engagement. We need to engage people into action and discourage the idea that change will happen by itself. It won’t.”
Denise Link and Renae Balentine are the women who met while volunteering in an orphanage in Vietnam. Their mission is to empower LGBT youth by offering support, education and by boosting their self-esteem with C.R.E.A.T.E. One ‘Ohana.
Funny girl Margaret Cho has been relentless in her quest to shock folks into paying attention to gay culture with her direct approach to politics, fame and life. Not one to measure her words, Cho has been unapologetic about her sexuality. Her unorthodox approach has inspired others to be themselves.
If you enjoy the connection between art, nature and the healing power of beauty, Kahanu Fung has a gift of selfless dedication to bestow her talent and perception onto the world.
If you felt like an outsider in school, had trouble learning or were labeled a difficult child, you can appreciate Nick Aiello and his quest to ensure that Hawai‘i kids have a safe place to get through the rough patches.
24 |
// December 2013
As a senior manager for the American Diabetes Association, L.J. Duenas helps countless people get the information and resources they need to live with this disease. Duenas uses his knowledge of the legal system, his experience with diabetes and his familiarity with island living to educate, encourage and empower those around him.
Community
Diversity is the basis of our community. Tia Thompson illustrates it by proving that one can be both a beauty pageant winner and an ass-kicking volleyball player.
If you have ever enjoyed the beautiful sounds created by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Honolulu, you have John Lehrack to thank.
Few people in our community have not been affected by the AIDS epidemic. Calvin Marquez, Jr. is respected for his work with the Life Foundation. He lives by the idea that there is good in the world, and he does his share to spread it.
Elyse Umeda brings her A-game to life and challenges us to do the same. She takes the cake for fitness guru of the year, but make that a paleo-approved cake, please.
Our community is represented in many arenas and Puahi Benzon puts us among the heavy lifters. Meeting this body builder can make you question the number of hours in a day, and just how many of those you put to good use.
One of the most romantic covers: Doctors Allison Gandre and Achintya Paez. These two women share not only their lives, but also love for the healing arts.
A favorite event in the community is the Universal Show Queen. With glitter and joy graciously left in our paths, Shalani Dante is a fierce representative of the T, in LGBT.
For Royce Enos, it’s not enough to be gorgeous. He must also help people find their inner beauty. There are many hairdressers in O‘ahu, but if you are looking for a genuine guy to transform your looks, Enos is your man.
// December 2013 | 25
Community
Esera Tuaolo was not able to truly do his life’s work of standing up for the bullied until he finally stood up for himself and came out. The former NFL player now leads by example, joining with other athletes to save LGBT youth.
There is shyness in the eyes of Kuali’i Kalaniulumoku Paki, perhaps a reflection of his ethic of service to the Native Hawaiian community, the gay community and basically anyone who asks for his help. Mahalo nui, ku’u kumu.
U.S. veteran Evelynn Ruby Daniels brought to life the discrimination endured by our transgender community in the military. Daniels reminds us that “freedom” includes freedom to be who we are.
Yoza brings the right kind of crazy to any venue in which she performs. So much heart in one musician may be the reason she sings so well: all that wild goodness has got to go somewhere.
Since she agreed to do another interview with us, designer Ari South was regularly seen in front of the statehouse during the special session for marriage equality. She is everything: artist, businesswoman and activist.
Life is a journey and Jody Rose Helfand (born female) has definitely chosen his own path. His dedication to learning, and his commitment to sharing his knowledge is inspiring.
Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer have done a beautiful job registering our struggles, our victories and our stories. Once you are done watching their documentaries, make sure to watch their impressive testimony in favor of SB1.
26 |
// December 2013
Kathryn Xian, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives: Xian has been at the forefront of activism against human trafficking. Her experience bringing together different sides for all the right reasons make her a great advocate for Hawai‘i.
Serving the LgBt community Since 1993
Tyronne Dang MD Hawai‘i Representative Chris Lee has received death threats for his work to end discrimination in Hawai‘i, but haters don’t faze him: his work has uplifted more adoration then hostility. U.S. Senator Colleen Hanabusa has been criticized for not supporting marriage equality before 2012: “Like many people of my generation, I grew up with certain assumptions about families and relationships. With reflection, discussion and personal experience, those views have changed over time.”
Board Certified (Internal Medicine) Provider of the Year (GayHealth.com 2004)
1441 Kapiolani Blvd Ste 1810 Honolulu HI 96814 Call 951-1511 for appointment
Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick, a spiritual leader of the Episcopal Church in Hawai‘i is the opposite of ministers who pound out sermons filled with rhythms of hate. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell believes that “even with full marriage equality, discrimination continues. Ending discrimination must be done individual to individual.” U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono is the first Asian woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate. In the ‘90s, she was the only statewide official to speak out against a proposed amendment to the state constitution intended to ban same-sex marriage. When asked, “Are you gay?” She laughed and relied, “Nobody’s perfect.” It is not common for a straight ally to make our cover, but Steven Levinson surely deserved the spot for ruling in favor of marriage equality in 1993. Back then it was not popular to take our side, but Levinson was a Justice in the Hawai‘i Supreme Court who took on the cause and has been on our side every step of the way. Two words for Hawai‘i Governor Neil Abercrombie: Thank you.
// December 2013 | 27
Want your Gay-friendly business listed here? $25/month William Fernandez 808.281.4084 William@eXpression808.com
HOTELS AS
DIVERSE AS OUR GUESTS
速
Aqua offers stylish hotels throughout 6 Hawaiian Islands with great service, no added amenity fees and plenty of personality.
A D I V I S I O N O F A Q U A H O S P I TA L I T Y
808.924.6543 or 1.866.406.AQUA (2782) www.AquaGayTravel.com
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 985