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Victory!
Hawaii Governor Vetos Homosexual "Marriage"
Civil Unions Bill
We just won a great victory, in Jesus' name! Thanks to all
who signed our free petition to Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle
last month, to veto HB 444 the homosexual "marriage"
bill. We faxed your
comments free of charge to Governor Lingle personally
(through her Chief of Staff Barry Fukunaga) on July 2nd. Your
835 individual comments arrived to her on 178 sheets of real
paper, which big stack landed on her desk just days before her
final decision. And we won!
Pasted below is the AP article proving YOU made a difference.
The best quote says "About 60 percent of the more
than 34,000 letters, telephone calls, e-mails and other communications
from the public to the governor asked her to veto the
measure," the governor's aides said late last week.
This proves The Pray In Jesus Name Project added about
2.5% to this final total, tipping the scales, and YOU directly
helped save traditional marriage in the great state of Hawaii!
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just like this one!
Hawaii
Governor Vetoes Same-Sex Civil Unions Bill
By HERBERT A. SAMPLE, Associated Press, read original source here.
HONOLULU – Hawaii's governor on Tuesday vetoed legislation
that would have permitted same-sex civil unions, ending months
of speculation on how she would weigh in on the contentious,
emotional debate.
Republican Gov. Linda Lingle's action came on the final day she
had to either sign or veto the bill, which the Hawaii
Legislature approved in late April.
 "There
has not been a bill I have contemplated more or an issue I have
thought more deeply about during my eight years as governor than
House Bill 444 and the institution of marriage," Lingle
said at a news conference. "I have been open and consistent
in my opposition to same-gender marriage, and find that House
Bill 444 is essentially marriage by another name."
Had Lingle not vetoed it, the measure would have granted gay and
lesbian couples the same rights and benefits that the state
provides to married couples. It also would have made Hawaii one
of six states that essentially grant the rights of marriage to
same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself. Five other
states and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage.
Lingle's decision is expected to be the last say on the proposal
this year, because state House leaders have said they won't
override any of Lingle's vetoes.
She said voters should decide the fate
of civil unions, not politicians.
"The subject of this legislation has touched the hearts and
minds of our citizens as no other social issue of our day,"
Lingle said. "It would be a mistake to allow a decision of
this magnitude to be made by one individual or a small group of
elected officials."
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For weeks, Lingle heard emotional statements
from both supporters and opponents of the bill. On Tuesday, she
invited leaders from both sides to her standing-room only news
conference.
Opponents of the measure, including many religious groups,
erupted in cheers and hugs when the announcement was made.
"What she did was very just, and I'm very happy about
it," said Jay Amina, 50, of Waianae. "It sends a good
message throughout the state of Hawaii — that our people here
on the islands are standing for traditional marriage."
Supporters then shouted, "We'll keep fighting!" and
"Let's go!" The group of about 100 joined in singing
"We Shall Overcome."
"We had hoped the governor would do the right thing for
civil rights an equality," Lee Yarbrough, of Honolulu, said
while standing arm-in-arm with his partner. "This battle is
far from over."
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Earlier in the day, dozens of supporters had
gathered for a daylong vigil in the state Capitol's ground-floor
rotunda. Others waved flags and held signs along a busy street,
to the honks of passing vehicles.
"I want to be able to get married," said Elizabeth
Kline, a 22-year-old [Lesbian] University of Hawaii student who
quickly corrected herself to say she wants a civil union.
"It's not marriage, but it's a step toward it."
A group of about 20 civil unions opponents raised their hands,
closed their eyes and said blessings in front of the office
doors of key lawmakers. They wore white shirts in a show of
unity and buttons declaring "iVote," a promise of
consequences come November if civil unions become law.
About 60 percent of the more than
34,000 letters, telephone calls, e-mails and other
communications from the public to the governor asked her to veto
the measure, the governor's aides said late last week.
Lingle said that "as difficult as the past few weeks have
been, I am comfortable with my decision while knowing full well
that many will be disappointed by it."
[Read entire article here.]
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