Hawaii Steps Closer To Civil Unions
Written by Paul Bedard Saturday, 14 February 2009 07:57
As gay activists across the country protest laws denying them the right to marry, Hawaii has moved a step closer to enacting same-sex civil unions.
The state House approved civil unions Thursday on a 33-17 vote, but the proposal faces a difficult fight in the state Senate, where opinion is more divided.
Four other states allow civil unions - Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey and New Hampshire.
Only Massachusetts and Connecticut allow gay marriage. California voters recently overturned a ruling allowing the practice there.
Hawaii voters passed the nation's first "defense of marriage" constitutional amendment in 1998, which cleared the way for lawmakers to reserve marriage for opposite-sex couples.
However, it left the door open for civil unions.
Read the original article at The Washington Blade
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