Leading With Pride: An Interview With Kathleen O’Dell

Last summer, Hawai‘i formed a state LGBTQ+ commission under the Department of Human Services to assess the needs of the community and work with other organizations to advocate for their rights. Eight members were appointed by Gov. Josh Green, including Chair Kathleen O’Dell. A lecturer of human development and family sciences at UH Mānoa, as well as network coordinator of the Hawai‘i ‘Ohana Support Network, O’Dell is committed to social justice and educating others about inclusion and equity.

Photo: Courtesy of Kathleen O’Dell. Composite: James Nakamura

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

• The first thing we did back in November was get a constitutional amendment passed (removing language that gave the Legislature power to reserve marriage for opposite-sex couples). We advocated for that so the rights of marriage would be protected in our state regardless of the federal administration. We’re trying to come out with strong efforts whenever we see LGBTQ+ rights being threatened.

• In my opinion, the more you get to know a person, the more you understand equality and human rights and to not just see me as a lesbian, but as Kat O’Dell. That is a facet of my identity, but that isn’t my entire identity. I see the commission as being an opportunity to educate, listen and understand needs and to bring together resources to support the community and advocate for the rights of our community.

• Transgender people are getting ridiculously targeted right now, and you’re talking about maybe 2% of our population, but it is a 2% that is greatly affected by this bullying. Our transgender youth have a much higher rate of suicide, a much higher rate of living in houselessness, and a much higher rate of substance abuse. If we are caring about our children and student success, you can’t look away from the fact that although they represent a smaller population, they are seeing the most harm put upon them by society and sometimes their own families. It’s bullying, and it’s in its worst form.

• More than anything, we want to bring folks together, not allow for a divide. As an educator, I always feel like the best way to do that is to educate and give people opportunities to learn. Any form of discrimination is based on ignorance.

• It’s a time to stand up and to stand together. There have always been threats to our rights. There will always be threats to our rights, but our rights will never change because the rights of the LGBTQ+ community are human rights, and they are worth fighting for.

humanservices.hawaii.gov/lgbtq-commission, @hawaiistatelgbtqpluscommission

Katrina Valcourt is the executive editor of HONOLULU Magazine.