US: Hawaii court rejects Republican’s bid to end same-sex marriages
A Hawaii court has thrown out a constitutional challenge by a Republican representative attempting to stop same-sex marriages in the country.
Judge Karl Sakamoto ruled this week that the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act is constitutional, throwing out an attempt to overturn it by representative Bob McDermott.
Mr McDermott had previously attempted to block same-sex marriages in the state through the courts, but that case was also thrown out by Judge Sakamoto.
Hawaii voted to approve same-sex marriage last November, and the first ceremonies were conducted in December.
Hawaii Attorney General David M Louie issued a statement that said: “[The ruling] unequivocally affirmed the right of people to marry the person they love without regard to gender.”
“This is a very good day for the people of Hawaii.”
Mr McDermott tried to defend his actions in an interview with SiriusXM Progress, saying: “I want to inoculate myself so I’m not called a bigot, a hater, a homophobe, or ignorant, because I’ve gotten a lot of that lately.”
“In 2000, I had an openly male homosexual work for me on my staff. This last legislative session I was the only one in the building who had an openly male homosexual who was HIV positive working for him.”
“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman.”
“The state’s compelling interest in marriage is for the welfare and care of the children…That’s the reason the state got involved in marriage … Homosexual couples cannot create children. It’s impossible.”
Mr McDermott also blamed his attorney, and cited his lack of experience as the reason his case didn’t proceed.
He said: “I had a wonderful attorney, a brilliant guy, but he wasn’t a constitutional attorney. He was a real estate attorney. A great guy, a real estate attorney, but not a constitutional expert.”
