Another Step Forward For Equality

America prides itself on championing equal rights. But the truth is that it's been a long and hard trail to try and establish true equality in this country, and we're still not there. But another step was taken toward that goal this week.

Both houses of the Hawaii legislature have passed a bill that would give our homosexual citizens the right to civil unions. These same-sex civil unions may not be called marriage, but it gives those involved the same rights and privileges offered to married heterosexuals. And whether it's called marriage or civil union, it's another step toward granting all American citizens equal rights.

The bill now goes to Hawaii's governor, Neil Abercrombie, who says he will sign it into law within the next 10 days. Abercrombie said, "I have always believed that civil unions respect our diversity, protect people's privacy, and reinforce our core values of equality and aloha. For me, this bill represents equal rights for all the people of Hawaii."

Hawaii will now join six other states that recognize civil unions with the same rights as marriage. An additional 5 states plus the District of Columbia grant same-sex couples the right to marriage. Hawaii's new law will take effect on January 1, 2012.

It has always amazed me that there are people who are willing to force their fellow citizens, whether they be homosexuals, women, minorities or whatever, to be second-class citizens. And usually they try to justify their superiority with religion. They just don't seem to realize that if one person can be denied any right, then everyone can be denied that same right.

I'm zealous about protecting my rights, and that's why I want to see all my fellow citizens enjoy those same rights. Equal rights is just a meaningless phrase until those rights are extended equally to all citizens.

Thank you Hawaii. This week you made all Americans a little bit more equal.