Hawai’i Governor Disputes Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A US District Court judge yesterday upheld a Hawai’i law banning same-sex marriages.

Governor Neil Abercrombie, who contends that the law violates the Constitution, released a statement in response saying he “respectfully disagrees.”

The governor said he plans to join the plaintiffs if they appeal the decision.

The governor stated that, “refusing individuals the right to marry on the basis of sexual orientation or gender is discrimination in light of the civil unions law.”

The suit was filed by plaintiffs Natasha Jackson and Janin Kleid, after they were denied a marriage license on November 18, 2011, by the Department of Health.