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 U Hawaii Agrees To Gay Couple Housing
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 12, 2008 - 1:00 pm ET
(Honolulu, Hawaii) A day after a same-sex couple
filed a lawsuit accusing the University of Hawaii of discrimination for refusing
to allow the couple to live in housing for married students the school says it
will create accommodation for gay and lesbian pairs.
Francisco Hernandez, vice chancellor for students,
said the change was already in the works when the lawsuit was filed.
"The lawsuit is surprising and disappointing
because UH-Manoa was already working on changing our housing policies to
accommodate couples such as the plaintiffs and families in similar situations,
and we are in the process of doing so," Hernandez told the Honolulu
Advertiser.
"It's a great first step and we've always
said we'd like to work with the university to help them change the policy,"
said attorney Clyde Wadsworth who represents Joseph O'Leary and his same-sex
partner Phi Ngo.
"This indicates to me they're moving to
change the policy, and that's great. We'd still like to see something
definite."
Wadsworth told the Advertiser that the lawsuit
would continue, however, until his clients are satisfied the situation has been
resolved.
Lambda Legal filed the suit on Tuesday. (story)
During the 2006-2007 school year, O'Leary and Ngo
lived in family housing on the main campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa
while O'Leary worked toward a degree in history.
They reapplied for family housing for the 2007
– 2008 school year, but the University denied their request.
In a letter the interim director of University
Housing Services stated that the University "recognizes marital status as
defined in Section 572-1 of the Hawai'i Revised Statutes," which restricts
the term "marriage" to different-sex couples.
The letter went on to state that "[u]ntil
such time that the state revises its definition of marital status, we will
continue to apply the existing definition to our assignment policy for married
housing."
Lambda in its lawsuit said that the couple has
incurred unnecessary expenses as a result of the university's action.
The couple has been forced to lease a more
expensive off-campus apartment. It is not within walking distance to
campus, so O'Leary is forced to incur significant transit expenses to get to and
from his classes. He has also had to forgo use of the subsidized student
meal plan. The additional expenses amount to several thousand dollars per
year.
©365Gay.com 2008
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