Four couples exchanged vows to honor and love each other at civil union ceremonies to bring in the New Year. Hawaii and Delaware joined Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island in recognizing same-sex civil unions New Years Day 2012. Six other states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and the District of Columbia issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
It's a beginning, but that's all it is at this point. A big unfortunate problem with civil unions is they're not universally accepted. So if Bob and Joe have this beautiful service performed here, but then moves to California...and perhaps they decide they aren't meant to be together. They'll have to go to the nearest civil union state to get it taken care of.
Or maybe Bob is struck with a serious illness and needs to be hospitalized during their vacation stay on the mainland. Joe may not have access to his room, because he's not considered a "family member." Even something as simple as filling out paperwork becomes an issue. It's not often when an application will state: Single, Married, Widowed/Divorced, Civil Service.
This is not to take away the significance of the Donna Gedge and Monica Montgomery, Lydia Pontin and Bonnie Limatoc-DePonte, Gary Bradley and Paul Perry and Saralynn Batt and Isajah Morales being able to solidify their relationships in the state of Hawaii. Every journey begins with the first few steps, and milestones alone the way.
Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!
A brief refresher: Remember California and the prop 8 issue: 2008, the state supreme court ruled same-sex couples could get married and then a state constitution Proposition 8 passed defining marriage as just between a man and a woman. However, in 2010 a federal district judge ruled Prop8 was unconstitutional. Currently, California still is not acknowledging civil unions or gay marriages.
Comments