Hawaii Governor Signs Trio Of Pro-LGBTQ+ Bills To Make State “Inclusive For All”

Hawai’i Democratic Governor David Ige signed a trio of bills in a ceremony last week at the Bishop Museum to help support the LGBTQ+ community and to commemorate LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

The governor was accompanied by several members of the state’s LGBTQ+ community including openly Out Representative Adrian Tam (D) and others, including ally State Senator Chris Lee (D), who has been a strong and consistent advocate on LGBTQ+ issues in Hawai’i.

“Collectively, these 3 bills are critical in supporting the LGBTQ+ members in our communities,” said Ige. “They will help us identify social and community issues more effectively and ensure that we can work to prevent discrimination in many areas of our society.”

According to Los Angeles Blade, the legislation includes HB2405 which states that Insurance providers will be prohibited from excluding gender affirming treatments when medically necessary and will require health plans to provide information on gender transition services.

SB2136 ensures gender identity or expression cannot be a reason for excluding a citizen from jury service, making sure discrimination plays no part in the state of Hawai’i’s legal system.

The final bill, SB2670 codifies that the Hawaiʻi state Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus commission will be established on a permanent basis.

“Thank you to everyone who made this happen to ensure Hawaiʻi strives to be an inclusive community for all,” the governor said as he signed the bills.

“My hope is that we send a strong message across the nation that while some states are looking backwards, Hawaii will continue to move forward,” said Representative Tam.

“These bills while important each in their own merits, mean so much more because it is not just about a commission, or jury service or anything else this is about fundamentally rejecting the politics of division,” said Lee.

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