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We have 12 guests online| Hawaii wrestles with the question of Civil Unions |
| Tuesday, 10 March 2009 | |
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Hawaii has become the newest area of conflict in the argument over same-gender marriage and civil union. According to the Associated Press, on Wednesday, Feb. 25, the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-3 to pass a bill that would require the state to grant marriage licenses to same-gender couples. The bill has already passed in the state House of Representatives, but following the tie vote in the senate committee, the bill has since been put on hold, but possibly not for long.
A rarely used proviso in the Hawaii Constitution allows votes to be carried out in a meeting of the full Senate if one third of the state’s senators approve. At least 18 of Hawaii’s 25 senators have openly said they favor civil marriage. Hawaii, which made the nation’s first “protection of marriage” laws ten years ago, has had several gay marriage bills presented, but few have even made it past one house of the Hawaii State Congress. The current bill, called House Bill 444, passed through the House of Representatives by a vote of 33-17, one vote fewer than the number needed to override a veto issued by the state’s governor. Christian Evans, a junior in social work from Littleton, Colorado, said, “I’d be surprised if the bill passes without a veto from the governor.” Governor Lingle, a Republican elected in 2002, has no history of voting for civil marriages, but has not stated whether she plans to veto the bill if it passes through the state Senate. If it does, and Lingle does not veto it, Hawaii will become the fifth state to authorize alternatives to marriage in the form of gay civil unions. Following California’s Proposition 8 turnover of a similar law, Hawaii could become the first state in the western United States to allow civil unions. The bill has met fierce protest from conservative citizens of Hawaii. According to the Associated Press, between 2000 and 6000 protesters met outside the Hawaii House of Congress during the meeting of the senate committee, mingling with supporters of the bill. Minor scuffles ensued. Comments
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If you really want to, put it to a vote, Lowly rated comment [Show]
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While marraige equality is the ultimate wish and well worth fighting for, the current legislation would offer committed couples the same rights as opposite-gender couples without using the word "marriage."
I have yet to see how civil recognition of one couple's relationship in any way negatively impacts another's.