By Russell Omo
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As Illinois and New Jersey join the ranks of the small list of states that have legalized gay marriage, Hawaii’s legislature is now in the process of passing Hawaii’s Marriage Equality Act of 2013 that would add us to that exclusive group after decades of deliberation. However, the decision has been solely placed in the hands of the senators within the legislature rather than that of the community that this bill is going to affect. And the community is one that is roughly divided on this controversial subject. It becomes apparent through testimonies and polls that the people of Hawaii are spread across the extremes, with those who are in support of the gay community and believe in the sense of equality while those who oppose uphold traditional beliefs rooted within time and religion.
It would be for the best to leave the decision to the people of Hawaii, rather than a select few to decide for the many; especially when the board is primarily for the bill contrary to the divided community. We live in a country that promotes freedom, but for that freedom to exist, we must act as a whole and embrace one another. It is one thing to create equality through law, but it is another thing to have an acceptance for one’s differences, or even at the bare minimum, tolerance. And that can’t happen with the current circumstances.
But it seems that at this point in time, the people haven’t accepted and because of that there is a tension within the ether of opinions. Testimonies on both sides have reached an apex of passion and to some, a voice of heated animosity that aims prejudice at the opposition. This divide in beliefs and opinions has also divided us as a people, unable to look at each other without the preconceived notions behind their differences.
The unfortunate truth is that acceptance cannot happen in a day, or a year, or the year after. There will always be a conflict of opinions.
Indeed, if this bill were to pass, it would be a milestone for the gay community. And if not, a milestone for traditional marriage supporters in a nation of constant change. But either way, it is just the first step.
Whatever the decision may be at the end of this debate, one thing remains true: we are divided as a state and as a community. We need to repair the rifts caused by this difference. People need to realize this in order to bring upon a new age for our people as a whole. Our family is still our family, our friends are still our friends, our neighbors are still our neighbors. We must reconcile and respect the myriad lifestyles with the new law or no new law and view others as they are, simply as people, like you and I.
