Interfaith isle event celebrates new law

An interfaith community gathering to celebrate Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s signing of Hawaii’s marriage equality bill — known as Senate Bill 1 — into law is set for Nov. 23 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew.

The Rev. Walter Brownridge, dean of the cathedral, said in a news release, "The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii joins Buddhists, Shinto, other Christians, and Unitarian Universalists in both celebrating marriage equality and providing healing to our community after a divisive and sometimes heated special session."

After an 11-day special session of the state Legislature, which included more than 55 hours of public testimony, the Senate on Tuesday gave final approval to the bill. Hawaii is now the 15th state, plus Washington, D.C., to approve gay marriage. Gay couples could get married in Hawaii as soon as Dec. 2.

Under Hawaii’s law, clergy will have the right to refuse to perform weddings of gay partners. Also, churches and other religious organizations will be able to decline to provide goods, services and facilities for gay weddings and celebrations if doing so violates their religious beliefs.

The Rev. Jonipher Kupono Kwong of the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, an organizer of interfaith support for the bill, said in the release, "Religion played a front and center role in this debate. The fact that over 100 religious leaders throughout Hawaii endorsed marriage equality speaks volumes. We worked hard, we prayed hard, now we’re going to party hard (in a holy way, of course) because religious freedom has triumphed."

During public testimony at the state Capitol, Kwong submitted to legislators a petition — signed by scores of religious leaders and more than 400 lay people — in favor of the bill, he said.

For additional information about the event at St. Andrew’s, 229 Queen Emma Square, call 595-4047.