Hawaii Filipinos Test Norms as Gay Marriage Gains in Community

From the westernmost town in Kauai, where his parents emigrated from the Philippines and found work on a sugar plantation, Jose Bulatao Jr. e-mailed Filipino state legislators urging them to approve same-sex marriage.

“I’ve written to all of them saying it’s time,” said Bulatao, 76, a retired speech teacher. “I hear talk about if you approve same-sex marriage, it will destroy what family is all about, which I don’t agree with.”