Hawaii Governor Abercrombie Appoints Openly Gay Judge, Hawaii Civil Unions Bill Clears Senate Judiciary Committee, Virginia Democratic Legislators Support Expansive Protections For Gays Including Repeal Of 2006 Amendment Prohibiting Same Sex Marriage

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie made his first judicial nomination Tuesday, appointing Sabrina Shizue McKenna, a longtime state judge and former University of Hawaii women’s basketball player, born in Tokyo, and raised by a single mother, and would be the first openly gay member of the state Supreme Court, reports the Star-Advertiser. Governor Abercrombie, a Democrat, said “Judge McKenna comes from a background that truly understands what it is to be a part of Hawaii, a part of the social fabric of Hawaii that is in fact unique in all the world.” Through her sexual orientation was not explicitly referenced during the ceremony Tuesday, McKenna said “I would like to believe that because of my background and my life experiences, I bring sensitivity to those who may not have been born into a life of privilege, a sensitivity to those whose life circumstances make it difficult for them to conform with all of society’s expectations. I try to bring compassion to the court.” She added that the significance of being the first openly gay member of the court would be that it could extend “hope to people who feel that they cannot succeed” because of any number of reasons, including sexual orientation.

Judge McKenna’s appointment arrives as a measure creating same sex civil unions in Hawaii was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, KHON 2 reporting that the vote was 3-2, and the measure is now forwarded to the full Senate for another vote. Democrats, who control the Legislature, want the bill passed this year and sent to Governor Abercrombie, who historically supports civil unions. Senate Bill 232 is almost identical to a measure that passed the Hawaii Legislature in 2010 before being vetoed by Republican Governor Linda Lingle. If passed, Hawaii would become the sixth state to afford the same rights and benefits to same sex couples as those enjoyed by opposite sex married couples.

Democratic legislators in Virginia on Tuesday announced support for bills that would prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in the state work force and in the Virginia National Guard. Legislators also pushed for legislation that would toughen anti-bullying laws in schools, allow local governments to set their own benefits polices for employees, and, most importantly, repeal a 2006 amendment to the Virginia Constitution that bans same sex marriage, reports the Richmond Times Dispatch. Similar legislation has previously failed, but lawmakers insist that there is growing bipartisan support for laws to extend equal protections under the law and in public employment to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Virginians. Delegate Adam P. Ebbin (Democrat-Alexandria) the sponsor of House Bill 2046, which would add sexual orientation to the list of protected classes upon which the state cannot discriminate in employment, said “It’s simply the right thing to do.”