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The Hawaii senate passed the final version of a civil unions bill with an 18-5 vote on Wednesday afternoon. The bill will now go to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has expressed his support for the bill.
"Today is a momentous day," Sen. Clayton Hee said according.
The Hawaii senate passed the final version of a civil unions bill with an 18-5 vote on Wednesday afternoon.
The bill will now go to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has expressed his support for the bill.
"Today is a momentous day," Sen. Clayton Hee said according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "There is no denying that by this action Hawaii takes a significant step towards true equality."
Equality Hawaii and Human Rights Campaign issued a joint statement about the bill's passage on Wednesday.
"We honor and thank the legislature today for their commitment to equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Hawaii." Alan Spector, co-chair of Equality Hawaii, said in the statement. “For the second time in less than a year, legislators have dedicated themselves to providing dignity and respect to all families in the Aloha State."
A similar bill was approved by the legislature in 2009, but vetoed by then-Gov. Linda Lingle after a long waiting period.
