HONOLULU — The state’s newly established LGBTQ+ Commission is making its presence felt as Hawaii celebrates Pride Month.

What You Need To Know

  • At the invitation of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, commission members attended an Oct. 1 flag-raising ceremony at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center Grounds marking the start of Honolulu Pride Month
  • This Saturday, commission will participate in the Honolulu Pride Parade along Kalākaua Avenue
  • The advisory body was created in accordance with a 2022 law, Hawaii Revised Statutes 369, that identified a need for a commission to identify the short- and long-term needs of LGBTQ+ community members and ensure that there is an effective means of researching, planning and advocating for the equity of this population in all aspects of state government

 

At the invitation of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, commission members attended an Oct. 1 flag-raising ceremony at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center Grounds marking the start of Honolulu Pride Month.

They later attended a Honolulu Pride Month celebration at Aliiolani Hale and attended a round table discussion featuring current Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Sabrina McKenna and former Hawaii Supreme Court Justices Steve Henry Levinson and Daniel R. Foley, who discussed Hawaii’s entrance onto the marriage equality stage. The evening concluded with the debut of a traveling exhibition “Kaulike No Na Mea A Pau: Toward Queer Justice in Hawaii.” 

This Saturday, the commission will participate in the Honolulu Pride Parade along Kalākaua Avenue. Honolulu Pride is celebrated in October to coincide with LGBTQ+ History Month, National Coming Out Day and Spirit Day.

The advisory body was created in accordance with a 2022 law, Hawaii Revised Statutes 369, that identified a need for a commission to identify the short- and long-term needs of LGBTQ+ community members and ensure that there is an effective means of researching, planning and advocating for the equity of this population in all aspects of state government.

The commission includes:

  • Kathleen O’Dell, chair (City and County of Honolulu)
  • Michael Golojuch Jr. (City and County of Honolulu)
  • Joe Tolbe, temporary secretary (Maui County)
  • Sandy Harjo-Livingston (City and County of Honolulu)
  • Philip Steinbacher, (Kauai County)
  • Joseph “Rocco” Vick (Hawaii County)
  • Richard Velasquez (City and County of Honolulu)

“The eight commissioners come to the table with a wide range of diverse and relevant experience and history,” O’Dell said. “It’s easy to feel how committed the members are and how enthusiastically they honor the responsibilities they are charged to take on.

The commissioners were sworn in by Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke on June 28, a date selected by the commissioners to commemorate the 55th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.

The commission, administratively housed under the Department of Human Services, is charged with creating public awareness and understanding of the responsibilities, needs, potentials and contributions of the state’s LGBTQ+ community; maintaining contacts with appropriate federal, state, local and international agencies; recommending legislative and administrative action on equal treatment and opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ community; and submitting to the governor and legislature an annual report with recommendations.

In addition to the eight voting members, the commission includes six ex officio, nonvoting members or their designees, including the superintendent of the Department of Education, the president of the University of Hawaii System, the director of Labor and Industrial Relations, the director of Human Resources Development, the director of Human Services; and the director of the Department of Health.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.