House Republicans release internal count that finds overwhelming public opposition to gay marriage legislation

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Hundreds of people gathered outside the state House on November 6, 2013, to demand lawmakers let the people vote on the legalization of gay marriage, but lawmakers passed the bill and Gov. Abercrombie signed it into law November 13, 2013. (photo by Mel Ah Ching)
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Hundreds of people gathered outside the state House on November 6, 2013, to demand lawmakers let the people vote on the legalization of gay marriage. (photo by Mel Ah Ching)

REPORT FROM THE HOUSE MINORITY – HONOLULU – As Senate Bill 1 moves to a second vote by the full House today, House Republicans released an internal count showing overwhelming public opposition to SB 1 and urged colleagues to listen to the voice of the people. Of the written testimony published by the joint House Committee, 80 percent of testifiers opposed the bill, as did 87 percent of oral testimony.

“Again and again in the public hearing, testifiers made a valid argument that public opinion should matter in a democracy,” Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson said. “We were elected to represent the people of Hawaii, and we can’t ignore them and their concerns.”

He continued, “Considering what we heard in the five days of testimony and what I’ve heard from my community, I urge my colleagues to be sensitive to the many objections expressed in the hearing and stop SB 1. It’s not too late to support the will of the people.”

“The Legislature has never seen this level of public concern for a bill,” said Rep. Beth Fukumoto. “The numbers underscore what was echoed hundreds of times in the hearing – that the majority of local residents is not comfortable with this bill or the process that it is going through. The public is right to distrust the hasty and confusing process through which this bill is moving.”

The unofficial count found that of 10,749 unique pieces of written testimony submitted to the House, 8,556 (80%) were in opposition and 2,193 (20%) were in support. Of 1,032 oral testifiers, 895 (87%) opposed the measure and 137 (13%) supported it.

Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson serves as the House Minority Leader and Vice Chair of the House Committee on Finance. He represents the 31st House District covering Moanalua, Foster Village and Aiea. Rep. Beth Fukumoto serves as the House Minority Floor Leader and represents the 36th House District covering Mililani and Mililani Mauka

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  1. "On the day of the Battle, TRUTH stands naked, she immediately begins to clothe herself in Self-Justification." Quote from History Handbook of Yesteryear

    • You forgot Mr Democrat Bill Clinton (Hillary's husband) when he signed DOMA in 96, & brought federal involvement into "your business" And B.Obama only stated he will not defend it, but it still lives.

      Now that he did, homosexual marriage infringes on the most important amendment, the FIRST Amendment, is the governors blatant circumvention of the democratic process. The issue of marriage has already been decided and voted on. The Hawaii State voters have already decided to define what marriage properly is. Therefore, if a change is to be made to the law, the only proper process is to follow the same procedure by which the law was enacted in the first place. BY POPULAR VOTE.

      So yes, a political issue, not a religious issue

  2. "On the day of the battle, TRUTH stands naked. She immediately begins to clothe herself in SELF-JUSTIFICATION>

    • State continues to impose it's LGBT agenda.
      The Governor has ordered Department of Human Resources and Development (DHRD) to issue State’s Discrimination/Harassment-Free Workplace Policy and Procedure, effective October 15, 2013. The policy must be disseminated to all employees and all employees, supervisors and non-supervisors must attend the “Discrimination/Harassment-Free Workplace” training.

      Gov. Abercrombie is at 586-0034, call him on what you think he should do.

  3. Lies and more lies were told by the testifiers and all the absurd claims by the National Organizatin for Marriage. Luckily, the legislators knew better. They were aware of real polls that show a large majority of Hawaiians in favor of marriage equality.

  4. The numbers underscore what was echoed hundreds of times in the hearing – that the majority of local residents is not comfortable with this bill or the process that it is going through. The public is right to distrust the hasty and confusing process through which this bill is moving.

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