Short answer is Yes, HI being so dependent on tourist dollars is far more likely to see the light than Utah, but still. As a Californian, I wouldn’t recommend anyone support California either. You have choices, good choices, on where to spend your tourism dollars, don’t waste them on places that do not value you.

It’s that simple.

I feel sorry for the gay population of Hawaii, as the state is treating them so poorly.

Stay away from Hawaii, until they get smarter!

I’ve been a lifelong democrat. I have voted for republicans in two instances only– john anderson, in 1980, and Milton Marks in San Francisco before I moved to Oakland.

This was not the case because I am a follower, or because I am so enamored of Demo policy, or programs, or abilities. It was becaase I have looked at Repub policy programs, and personalities, and have seen very little I could support. This position started to solifidy when Reagan was running, with his open courting of the Chrstian right, a courting which has led to the decline of public and political discourse in this country.

I voted Democratic by default, and continued to vote that way despite my growing horror over broken promises, DADT, DOMA, and only slightly more principle than a republican at his best
I stopped giving them money after DADT, though I did give money both to Howard dean and to Obama.

My currrent conclusion: they are certainly better than the Repubs, and have frequently been our friends, especially compared to just about any Repub. At the same time, they have no backbone, don’t seem to stand for too much, and will roll over for the first dog that barks loud enough.

I wish i could say “don’t vote” but that is what they want, and is one of hte biggest problems our former democracy faces.

I would vote for Barbara Lee one of the few representatives that has both brains and principle. We got ron Dellums foisted on us, and he has been a disaster for Oakland, despite his liberal credentials and his good points.

So what am I trying to say: spend your vote wisely. I will seriously be looking at third party candidates ofr the first time.

I politely told them that as a resident of the Bay Area and frequent visitor to Hawaii, I have decided not to travel to Hawaii this year due to the actions of the Democrats in the state house. I have also told them that I will encourage national gay organizations to discourage travel to Hawaii. I ended by telling them that perhaps a few Massechussetts style results might wake them up.

Could you just imagine Akaka or Inoue taken out due to Democrats just not going to the polls.

But one that is visible, highly aggressive and regardless of size, isn’t remarkable except as a noisy annoyance.

Even as the Perry vs. Schwartzeneggar case argued political power regarding gay people.
At the same time, no one thinks that political financing or voting patterns show that gay people can do ANYTHING in that regard where real change or influence goes.
This isn’t a monolithic minority, and even though say, there are conservative gays, there are gays who don’t support marriage equality, the opposition just LOVES to put them front and center as representative of gays enough so that the political leadership is off the hook.

They more and more look like people who HATE to discuss this, consider it a cursory and compulsory duty, but feel no real political threat from gay people.
And seriously, my friends…why should they?

Being supportive of gay equality is spoken of as if an act of treason, hence the words ‘militant’ and ‘activist’ attached to said people like the other dirty words from back in the day like ‘Communist’.

Even if a person ISN’T an activist, a gay person just by being gay will be given that moniker.
But lo, and behold.
Democratic fund raisers and political candidates who slide into town and put in an appearance at gay related functions will say all the right things, make all the right connections and make all the money they want to.
THEY haven’t complained that gay dollars has been something they are short of, right?
But when those of REAL influence, because of power of their office, DO tend to pretend there isn’t more they can do, or more they care to.
They might appoint someone who is gay to a minor office, they might lend a signature to a bill that has no strong affect on way or the other.
They might invite some connected gay folks to a few parties.

But after it’s all said and done and the checks have been cashed, the campaign pledges are forgotten.
And embedded in ‘well there are MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO ATTEND TO’ which is code for, you’re not important and never will be as long as this country is at crisis levels. Wouldn’t want to BE YA.

And our country will be PERPETUALLY at crisis levels, but no matter if gay lives are too.

And, with this result in HI, the powers that be will simply see gay Hawaiians and their supporters as noisy, but without the necessary political clout to really make a difference they need to care about.

They don’t care because THEY. DON’T. HAVE.TO.
And even if someone in office, anywhere in America, says something truly vile and defamatory and INFLAMMATORY about gay people, they can point to those anecdotal incidents of vandalism and anger and call it ‘tantrums and not getting their way’
instead of an entire minority of people being TREATED BADLY and unCONSTITUTIONALLY.

And then what can really be done about it?
Those highly visible and loud rallies got played in the media and in public opinion as something completely unrecognizable from the reality and end results.

Perhaps these same leaders will use those reactions to Prop. 8 as a rallying cry of their own to not scare the horses. Ignore them and they’ll go away kind of tactic.
And really, my friends what COULD we do about it?
Get loud, say ‘we’re not going to vote for you next term and then you’ll REALLY be sorry’?
It’s worked wonders so far, hasn’t it?

People WANT gay folks to disappear, keep paying your taxes, keep making contributions, but just don’t make anyone SEE or HEAR you.
And don’t you DARE complain! You have EVERYTHING and apparently don’t really NEED all those pesky rights, after all, you’re politically POWERFUL enough to even SAY you’re withdrawing support, votes…(yawn)…
It makes for discomfort all around and a useful weapon if you REALLY get mad.

I realized something when I saw for the second time, the ‘immigration’ reform/amnesty demonstrations that are on May 1st. Los Angeles is ground zero for these demonstrations and I’m not going to be PC about ILLEGAL immigration here.

But I thought about how much accommodation there is, and how illegal immigrants are cast as a model minority that ‘just wants a better life for their families’.

Considering all the exponential crimes that can and DO occur because of illegal status, how the hell would or could our government or any citizen ASSUME that?
There is a considerable web of danger around this conceit. Especially in a time of war with a stealth enemy. In war, you have to know where and who your enemy is and their intent, with illegal immigration you know none of these.
Several Presidential administrations have committed TREASON in this accommodation alone. I looked it up as a matter of fact.

Bear with me.
Given this model class label, and accommodation based on this assumption, unaccounted for illegal immigrants might roughly make up a similar amount of residents in this country as gay citizens.

But…it’s GAY citizens who ARE a voting class, and illegal immigrants who are not.
GAY citizens DON’T introduce the financial burden on the state because they (and their children) are less representative of being DEPENDENT on it.

So if illegal immigrants, regardless of not knowing who they are, or their record here, why the model assumption?

Gay citizens who want to marry, and serve in the military and Scouting and so on, represent people ‘who want to have a better life and care for their families.’
But even though that intent and purpose is obvious, it’s denied by most of our political representatives. Indeed, expressed as threatening.
Well, why?

Yet, gay citizens are more politically ignored than illegal immigrants who by THEIR status, have more protections and Constitutional access as well.
These are a class of people who don’t have to prove their loyalty or intentions to and for this country, although LEGAL immigration requires it.

But gay citizens ALWAYS have to prove themselves and even then, STILL aren’t given the benefit of ANY doubt whatsoever.

I’m not making this about one class’s rights over another.

I AM making this about the political calculus that requires nothing from people who statistically have NOT been healthy for our nation, especially in concentrations in the bigger cities.
And the political calculus that makes gay citizens fair game for abuse and taxation WITHOUT representation.

Something to ponder, folks.
The HI legislation just DID show that not only they DON’T care, but more’s the point…feel no obligation, and don’t have to.