The Hawaii Senate is expected later today to approve a bill to legalize same-sex civil unions. The state House already voted 31-19 in favor of the legislation on Friday.
Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie has already said he will sign the bill into law, making Hawaii the sixth state (plus the District of Columbia) to allow same-sex civil unions or marriage. The state legislature passed a similar bill last year but then-Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican, vetoed it.
The bill passed in the Senate once, already. However, the House made amendments last week to allow LGBT couples to file their taxes jointly, and file for divorce. The Senate must vote on the revised bill.
“It's all about being treated like everybody else,” Rep. Blake Oshiro, D-Aiea-Halawa, who is gay, said after the vote. “Let today be that day where we move ever closer to justice for all.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Clayton Hee said he would accept the House changes, and support the bill's passing, but yesterday, he postponed the vote citing public notice as the reason. He says he wants to be sure they're covered, legally, when they pass the bill.
We’re thinking Hawaii will be doing a booming business in same-sex ceremonies because, well … who wouldn’t want to tie the knot in Hawaii?
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Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie has already said he will sign the bill into law, making Hawaii the sixth state (plus the District of Columbia) to allow same-sex civil unions or marriage. The state legislature passed a similar bill last year but then-Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican, vetoed it.
The bill passed in the Senate once, already. However, the House made amendments last week to allow LGBT couples to file their taxes jointly, and file for divorce. The Senate must vote on the revised bill.
“It's all about being treated like everybody else,” Rep. Blake Oshiro, D-Aiea-Halawa, who is gay, said after the vote. “Let today be that day where we move ever closer to justice for all.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Clayton Hee said he would accept the House changes, and support the bill's passing, but yesterday, he postponed the vote citing public notice as the reason. He says he wants to be sure they're covered, legally, when they pass the bill.
We’re thinking Hawaii will be doing a booming business in same-sex ceremonies because, well … who wouldn’t want to tie the knot in Hawaii?
(More Sex Feed)
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