6/28/2010 – Today, a coalition of leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations in Hawaii announced that their outreach efforts to members of the Hawaii Business Roundtable had resulted in half of its total membership repudiating the original call for veto of HB 444, Hawaii’s Civil Unions bill. Many HBR members affirmatively came out in support of equal rights for same-sex couples. The original letter, sent by Gary Kai, Executive Director of the organization, urged Governor Linda Lingle to veto the measure due to administrative implementation issues.
“We stand together today, united as one community for the benefit and wellbeing of all the people of Hawaii. For the past two weeks we have strived to learn more about the circumstances regarding the Hawaii Business Roundtable’s letter to Governor Lingle. We urged those members of HBR who believe, as we do, that all families in our great state should be treated equally under the law, speak out and make their voices heard. Our calls to treat all people with the same dignity and respect were answered and today we’re proud to announce that half of the members of HBR have stood with us and against the senseless discrimination of same-sex couples. We urge Governor Lingle to do the right thing and sign civil unions into law and protect all the people who make our state the unique and diverse place that it is.”
Coalition members include Equality Hawaii, the GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, the Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG-Oahu and Pride Alliance Hawaii. Representatives from each group delivered the business response letters to Governor Lingle in an effort to ensure the record is set straight in advance of the Governor’s decision regarding the bill on July 6.
HBR Members on Record Repudiating Call for Veto
Alexander and Baldwin, Inc.
Aon Risk Services, Inc. of Hawaii
Bank of Hawaii
Castle Medical Center
City Mill Company, Ltd.
Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties
DFS U.S. Group
Foodland Supermarkets, Ltd.
Hawaii Medical Services Association
Hawaii National Bank
Hawaii Pacific Health
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO)
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HEI)
Hawaiian Telcom
James Campbell Company LLC
Kaiser Foundation
Kyo-ya Co. (Sheraton Waikiki)
Marriott International, Inc.
Marsh and McLennan Inc. – Honolulu
Oceanic Cablevision, Inc.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts
University of Hawaii
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