Hawaii's Gay House Leader on Lingle's Veto

Blake Oshiro, Hawaii's house majority leader and author of the state's failed civil unions bill, released a statement to The Advocate on Gov. Linda Lingle's veto.

"It was extremely disappointing that the Governor choose to ignore this as a civil rights issue and instead caved in to political expediency with her veto," Oshiro writes. "She had an opportunity to eliminate discrimination in our society, but instead upheld it. It was a sad day when the Governor refuses to give all of our citizens the rights and benefits under the law that should be enjoyed by all."

The gay Democrat, who works as an attorney, represents the area near Waipahu on the island of Oahu.