Hawaii House Committee Approves Civil Unions Bill

On Tuesday, the Hawaii House Judiciary Committee voted in approval of Senate Bill 232, which would grant civil unions to all couples. If passed into law, couples seeking civil unions will receive the same protections accorded to married couples under state law. The bill also gives jurisdiction regarding divorce, annulment and separation to Family Court, as is the case with marriage in Hawaii. The House may vote on the bill sometime this or next week. Because the bill has been changed under the recommendation of the state Attorney General?s Office, if it passes in the House, it must be returned to and approved by the Senate before being presented to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. A similar bill was introduced last year and was passed by the Legislature only to be vetoed by then Gov. Linda Lingle. During nearly five hours of testimony in the state Capitol auditorium on Tuesday, supporters and opponents of the bill made their voices heard. In 1998, a constitutional amendment approved by voters gave the Legislature the power to define marriage as between one man and one woman. While some LGBT advocates lauded the civil unions bill, others voiced their unwavering support for marriage equality.Related Media Coverage:The Honolulu Star-Advertiser - February 9, 2011"Panel Passes Civil Unions Bill"http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20110209_Panel_passes_civil_unions_bill.html

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