Decrim Sex Work in Hawaii- *Please act now!* Anyone, anywhere

WE HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF MOVING FORWARD IF WE ACT NOW!!

Dear All,

I apologize for being absent from the listserves lately, I have had terrible
internet access, so I am unaware of what has been sent up to now re Hawaii. So if
this repeats, forgive me! But I also have very recent info on this from someone.

Right now there are some very heavy-hitters in top govt. positions in HI who would
support this legislation if it is heard. Up until now, the HI legislature has not
heard from the public (you do not have to be a HI constituent to call or write in
support of this!) about this legislation, so it is almost dead before it gets
heard. It will not get heard if they don't hear from the public (see email pasted
below from legislature insider).

We need people to call the point person in the legislature (Tommy Waters, whose
contact info is pasted below) to tell him why you think this should be heard.
Also, we need people to write letters- have anyone you know write or call- and if
anyone has the time to type a quick "form letter" to send to the groups so we can
pass it on, that would be wonderful. It is 7 am where I am and I haven't been to
sleep yet (!), so I don't have the mental capacity to pen one now, or I would have
included one with this email. But maybe someone can pick up on this in the am.

The following is the email sent to a friend of mine from HI from someone who is a
legislature insider, followed by some relevant links and Tommy Waters' contact
info. Please do what you can and forward this widely! Please note that you do not
have to be a Hawaiian resident to make your voice heard- the most important thing
is to let Tommy Waters (or anyone from the legislature) know that you think this
legislation is a good idea and why. Even if you come from another country! This is
so important- we may actually make some headway in the US with this!

Here is the first letter from my contact in Hawaii:
___________________________________________________________
To E

Like I said in my earlier text message, I had a very interesting
discussion with one of the introducers of the bill. When I first asked
her if the bill would be heard she said "No I don't think so.", probably
thinking that I was opposed and not wanting me to think she was an
advocate. But as we talked more and I asked a number of questions I
think she began to understand that I didn't think it was a bad thing if the
bill got heard and made some movement.

We then began talking about resources that would support a favorable
position. She mentioned some faculty up at U.H. and told me she'd try
to provide information and or contacts. She agreed with some of the
strategy that you and I spoke about. She indicated that whenever the issue was
previously discuss at the legislature some of the legitimate concerns
surrounding the victimless crime argument was that there really are
victims relative to the larger issues associated with the business such
as drugs and human trafficking.

The Representative also said that she would speak with the key
introducer of the measure to get additional background on the bill.

The bill is currently before the House Judiciary Committee which is
Chaired by Tommy Waters. He gets to make the call as to whether the
measure gets heard. Tommy's a Kamehameha grad, about 10 years behind
me, but I have a friend who's his classmate. Possibilities.

Anyway that's the long and the short of it for now. I don't think it's
a dead issue, but interested people need to pull together, agree on a
strategy and act, including making calls and sending letters to
encourage the Committee Chair, and others with influence, that the bill deserves
being heard.
_______________________________________________________________


Here is the URL for the legislation:

http://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/HB982_.htm


And this is the status link

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus2.asp?billno=HB982

here is the link to the judiciary comit.

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/house/Comm/commJUD.asp?press1=house&press2=comm


The person to whom we should direct correspondence:

Tommy Waters

51st Representative District
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 302
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
phone 808-586-9450; fax 808-586-9456
E-mail repwaters [at] Capitol.hawaii.gov




"The individual woman is required a thousand times a day to choose either to accept
her appointed role and thereby rescue her good disposition out of the wreckage of
her self-respect, or else follow an independent line of behavior and rescue her
self-respect out of the wreckage of her good disposition."
--Jeannette Rankin 1880-1973
American Feminist and Pacifist



Sex Workers Outreach Project USA

2930 Shattuck Ave Suite 200-22
Berkeley, CA 94705
1-877-776-2004
http://www.swop-usa.org