House Committee on Judiciary (JUD) - chair: Karamatsu, vice chair: Ito

Thursday, February 5, 2009, 2:00 P.M. Conference Room 325

Testifier: Suzanne Meisenzahl, LWV of Hawaii, Chair, Women's Health and Safety Committee

Click here to view HB444

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii strongly supports HB444, which extends the same rights and responsibilities of spouses to partners in a civil union. Response to a survey of League members several years ago was in overwhelming support of civil unions for gays and lesbians. This position is a natural extension of the longtime concern for civil rights in the League of Women Voters, which grew out of the women’s suffragist movement. Our civil liberties are the cornerstone of our American values. We strongly urge the recognition of gays and lesbians as valuable citizens of our state and the nation, entitled to all the rights of citizenship, and join the increasing number of states taking such action We urge your support. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this bill.