Equality Hawaii

Equality Hawaii

The Equality Hawaii logo

U.S. State of Hawaii
Founded November 16, 2007 (2007-11-16)
Location
Area served
Hawaii
Website equalityhawaii.org
Formerly called
 Family Equality Coalition, Family Equality Foundation
Equality Hawaii at Honolulu Pride Parade in June 2012
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
Rights in Hawaii
Baehr v. Lewin (1993)
Baehr v. Miike (1996, 1999)
Constitutional Amendment 2 (1998)
House Bill 444 (2009)
Senate Bill 232 (2011)
Hawaii Marriage Equality Act (2013)
Equality Hawaii
LGBT rights in the United States
Same-sex marriage in Hawaii
Reciprocal beneficiary relationships in Hawaii
LGBT history in Hawaii
LGBT Portal

Equality Hawaii is a statewide political advocacy organization in Hawaii that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights, including same-sex marriage.

History

Equality Hawaii was founded as Family Equality Coalition on November 16, 2007 as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation. It was founded based on community and expert input at the organization's first meeting in September 2007 after a civil unions bill was attempted in February 2007. The organization made an early commitment to advocating for same-sex marriage in Hawaii. The first general membership meeting was held in partnership with UNITE HERE Local 5 and featured Cleve Jones. In 2010, the board elected to change its name to Equality Hawaii to reflect its scope expanding beyond just same-sex marriage.[1]

Originally named Family Equality Foundation, Equality Hawaii Foundation (EHF) was founded on October 27, 2009 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. While its 501(c)(3) application was being approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the organization was fiscally sponsored by the Equality Federation Institute. This allowed the organization to immediately pursue grant funding. The organization received its official designation from the IRS on June 5, 2011.[2]

Equality Hawaii Action Fund was founded August 13, 2010 as a 527 organization. It was formed in response to Governor of Hawaii Linda Lingle vetoing a 2010 civil unions bill; opponents of legal recognition of same-sex relationships had made public pledges to remove from office any legislators who supported civil unions; an opponent to LGBT issues openly gay House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro; and Gubernatorial candidates Mufi Hannemann and Duke Aiona were promising to not only veto any future civil unions legislation, but put the issue on the ballot.[3]

Equality Hawaii was a founding member and fiscal agent of Hawaii United for Marriage, a coalition of organization which advocated for the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act, which was signed into law on November 13, 2013 by Governor Neil Abercrombie, and same-sex couples began marrying on December 2, 2013.[4][5][6][7]

Structure

Equality Hawaii is often used to describe three separate organizations:[8]

Activities

Equality Hawaii activities and programs currently active include:[9]

One of the Equality Hawaii Foundation's first projects, this photo exhibit shares the stories of LGBT families in Hawaii. The project continues to be exhibited around the state of Hawaii.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Our History". Equality Hawaii. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Our History". Equality Hawaii Foundation. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Our History". Equality Hawaii Action Fund. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Abercrombie signs same-sex marriage bill into law". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  5. ↑ "First same-sex couples marry in Hawaii". Advocate.com. December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  6. ↑ Pignataro, Anthony (May 16, 2014). "Equality Hawaii Foundation: 1,417 Same-Sex Couples Married In Hawaii In Last Six Months". MauiTime News. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Equality Hawaii Endorses Takai for Congress". Civil Beat. April 11, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  8. ↑ "What's The Difference?". Equality Hawaii. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  9. ↑ "About Us". Equality Hawaii. Retrieved July 4, 2014.

External links

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