By Mileka Lincoln
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) –
With a little more than two weeks to go until lawmakers convene at the State Capitol for the special session to decide whether to legalize same-sex marriage, both sides hope to sway legislators before they vote.
About 150 people gathered at the Capitol Friday afternoon in opposition to the proposed same-sex marriage legislation.
“The coalition to let the people decide on marriage says don’t take our choice to preserve traditional marriage as a unique social institution out of the law unless you ask us. If we say yes, fine. If we say no, no,” said Jim Hochberg, President of Hawai’i Family Advocates, who helped organize today’s rally.
Advocates for same-sex marriage say the public has already been given that chance.
“The people in Hawaii did make a decision in 1998, changing the State Constitution and giving the legislature the responsibility to define marriage,” said Lois Perrin, Legal Director of ACLU of Hawaii, and founding member of Hawai’i United for Marriage, in a statement to Hawai’i News Now.
“Let the people decide! Let the people decide!” chanted the crowd during their rally in the Rotunda.
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