Post election news on Civil Unions, good and bad

In Hawai'i, the recent election was good to Democrats. This may mean that civil unions, which were vetoed by the last governor, may be back on the table.

Hawaii voters 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 and rejected many church-backed candidates. …

Only one incumbent lawmaker who backed civil unions lost election last Tuesday despite efforts by opponents of civil unions who held large rallies to show legislators their feelings earlier this year.

But what one hand gives, the other may take. In Wisconsin, the election went the other way and the limited protections for LGBT couples, already under attack, may be at further risk:

“'(Governor-elect) Scott Walker and (Lieutenant Governor-elect) Rebecca Kleefisch have been very clear about how they feel about domestic partnerships and we are prepared to defend the legislation,’ said Katie Belanger, executive director of Fair Wisconsin, the state's leading gay rights advocacy group,” reported TheNorthwestern.com.

Walker vetoed a domestic partnership measure as Milwaukee County executive and said he would have rejected the state’s initiative. Meanwhile, Kleefisch compared same-sex unions to marriages with animals and inanimate objects in a radio show this year.

It amazes me that these bigots can say such things in public and get away with it.