Activist's Remembrance to Pass the Hawaii Civil Unions Bill

Jo-Ann Marie Adams, Esq., is a grassroots political activist living in Waikiki (Oahu). She was one of the few activists who devoted the last decade to passing legislation to provide equal treatment under the law for lesbians, gays, transgenders and bisexuals in Hawaii. After a decade of passing legislation, including the Hawaii civil unions bill, she takes time to reflect and share the lessons she learned. This book chronicles how this grassroots activist, beginning as a citizen advocate with no prior legislative experience, learned how to become a more effective citizen lobbyist and community organizer.

About the Author

Jo-Ann Marie Adams was raised in Southern California. She graduated from racially-diverse John Muir High School during the height of the civil rights movement. Lacking self-discipline, she pursued degrees to foster personal growth. She earned an A.A. degree from Pasadena City College; a B.A. from Pomona College in Claremont, California; an M.A. from California State University at Los Angeles, an M.B.A. from Pacific Lutheran in Washington and a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in California. After a twenty-year career in information systems, Jo-Ann entered law school where she served as Senior Managing Editor of the Santa Clara Computer and High Technology Law Journal and won an American Jurisprudence Award for Constitutional Law. She competed in several moot court competitions, including Gray's Inn (London). Upon graduating, she helped law students to compete in moot court competitions as an Adjunct Professor. Currently, Jo-Ann M. Adams, Esq., is a licensed, active attorney in both Hawaii and California. She focuses her practice on estate planning. Her practice fuels her political activism. Jo-Ann is the Chair of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Caucus and a member of the Hawaii Democratic Women’s Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. She is an elected member of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board. Jo-Ann produces and hosts a bi-weekly show, The TaLC Show, on local public television, which encourages political activism by interviewing guests, such as same-sex couples suing the State, public officials elected on their first run for office, and community activists. The TaLC Show airs on ‘Olelo, Honolulu’s public media station. Jo-Ann currently blogs for Sun News Hawaii. This is her first book. Jo-Ann is available for speaking engagements and consulting.

Contact Jo-Ann at JAdamsEsq@aol.com or (808) 528-2100.
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