Hawaii is 15th state to legalize gay marriage
By Reid Wilson, Updated: November 12 at 6:11 pm - Washington Post
Hawaii was poised to become the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage
Tuesday evening after state senators sent legislation to Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s
(D) desk.
After a same-sex marriage bill hit legislative roadblocks earlier this year,
and after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the federal Defense of
Marriage Act was unconstitutional, Abercrombie called the legislature back into
special
session to pass a compromise measure. The new version of the bill includes
protections for religious officials who object to same-sex marriage.
Related: Gay
marriage status in the US
The state House of Representatives heard 56 hours of public testimony over
five days last week. On Friday night, the House passed the marriage bill by a
30-19 vote.
The state Senate, which passed its version of the same-sex marriage bill by a
20-4 margin earlier this year, passed the House version when it met Tuesday.
Abercrombie has said he will sign the bill.
The compromise bill allows same-sex couples to get marriage licenses as early
as Dec. 2.
Republican state Rep. Bob McDermott said in a letter to Abercrombie on Friday
he will file a request for a temporary restraining order if the bill passes, the
Honolulu
Star Advertiser reported Tuesday. A state judge has said he will hear the
case if the bill passes.
Hawaii will give same-sex marriage proponents its second
big win in two weeks. Illinois lawmakers passed a same-sex marriage bill on
Nov. 5, and Gov. Pat Quinn (D) said
in a statement he would sign it at a public ceremony on Nov. 20.