Hawaii positioned to pass same-sex civil unions
The Washington Post reports Hawaii voters have opened the way for same-sex civil unions to become state law next year, with an election that gave victory to a pro-gay rights gubernatorial candidate.
The state House and Senate retained the Democratic majorities that approved a civil-union bill this year before it was vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle, and Democratic Gov.-elect Neil Abercrombie has said he will sign a similar law if passed by the Legislature.
The move would make Hawaii the sixth state to grant essentially the same rights of marriage to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself.
Gay man may be deported from U.S.
The Boston Herald reports a Brazilian man, who was recently reunited with his Massachusetts husband when federal officials temporarily allowed him into the United States, could face deportation because Attorney General Eric Holder will not reverse the immigration ruling that first separated the couple.
Genesio Oliveira, 31, said Nov. 8 that he could be forced to return to Brazil in six months.
Three years ago, Oliveira and husband Tim Coco, 49, of Haverhill, Mass., were forced to live apart when Oliveira was denied asylum over claims he was raped as a teenager. A judge ruled he was not harmed physically by the rape.
In June, at U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s urging, federal officials temporarily allowed Oliveira back in the country on humanitarian grounds.
AG fired for targeting gay student leader
CNN.com reports an assistant attorney general in Michigan has been fired after harassing an openly gay University of Michigan student, state Attorney General Mike Cox said Nov. 8.
Andrew Shirvell “repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior and inappropriately used state resources,” Cox said.
The lawyer for Chris Armstrong, the university’s student body president, lauded the decision.
“It’s inexplicable — he knows nothing about Chris,” said attorney Deborah Gordon about Shirvell, who claimed that Armstrong was a “racist, elitist liar” and “privileged pervert.”
— Larry Nichols
