Hele-On buses across the island will soon feature a new informational advertisement to educate residents about their civil rights and provide resources for those facing discrimination.
Dubbed “No Hate in the 808,” the initiative is a collaboration between 91直播 State LGBTQ+ Commission, 91直播 State Commission on the Status of Women, and 91直播 Civil Rights Commission, in partnership withthe nonprofit Rainbow Family 808.
“It was envisioned as a partnership with other commissions so we can all spread our budgets further,” said Michael Golojuch Jr., vice chair of the LGBTQ+ Commission. “Because, like the saying goes, if you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go further, go together.”
Llasmin Chaine, the executive director of the Commission on the Status of Women, said she felt providing this type of education has the potential to raise awareness about resources residents may not know exist.
“I was just thrilled to collaborate with the 91直播 Civil Rights Commission and LGBTQ Commission,” Chaine said. “I really feel like once we inform folks of their rights and the protections that are available and let them know where to report, that we can reduce barriers to getting reporting happening and then improving folks’ circumstances.”
The campaign will also include digital ads across social media sites and will run from Friday to May 30 in 91直播 and Honolulu counties. They are hoping to expand the campaign to include Kauai and Maui and have reached out to those counties to participate.
Leaders from each of the commissions said that they do not think the majority of residents know the extent of their civil rights in 91直播, which includes protections from discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, disability, age and race, among others, in workplaces as well as public accommodations, housing, real estate and state funded services.
“This is a great way for us to meet that mandate of making sure that our community knows that these are the rights you have, but your rights are only there if you use them,” Golojuch said.
While he acknowledges that the ads are information heavy, he hopes placing them on buses will give people time to read them and absorb the information.
“I know in 91直播 County, you have quite a bit of distance between bus stops, so there’s going to be time for them to read the entire thing,” he said. “And if they don’t, that’s why the QR codes are there to be able to get to the 91直播 Civil Rights Commission’s website, or if they want to learn more about the different commissions, or our nonprofit partner.”
According to Marcus Kawatachi, the executive director of the 91直播 Civil Rights Commission, they received 379 complaints of discrimination incidents in the state last year, 58 of which were in 91直播 County.
He said that if they see that number go up in response to the campaign, he hopes it’s not because more discrimination is occurring, but because more people are reporting it, which Golojuch said would allow the state to better address underlying issues.
“It’s a two-edged sword. If there’s a huge jump for the 91直播 Civil Rights Commission, that means we have a huge problem,” he said. “So if there’s a huge spike for them, then there’s a bigger question that we need to address when it comes to understanding discrimination.”
Rapha Sheartsman, a student liaison at University of 91直播 at Hilo’s LGBTQ+ Center, said they had noticed an uptick in discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community on campus amid the current political climate.
“It’s been skyrocketing the past few months, as it kind of has been in most places, due to a bunch of different reasons,” Sheartsman said.
They said they appreciate efforts from the state like the “No Hate in the 808” campaign, but would also like to see the government go farther and take a stronger stance on supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
“Not just protecting our rights, but fighting for them by being more vocal,” Sheartsman said. “I think with our representatives, having them be louder about these issues, I think would just make things a lot safer.”
Email Grace Inez Adams at grace.adams@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
