Hawaii House Passes Bill Permitting Civil Unions for Gay Couples

The Hawaii House has passed legislation that would create civil unions for gay and lesbian couples in the state.

House Bill 444 "extends the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union." Under the terms of the bill, the state will also recognize legal gay marriages and civil unions performed in other states.

Now that the bill has been passed in the House, it will move on to the state Senate, where it must be approved in order to be enacted into legislation.

Although many expected the bill to pass smoothly in the House, they aren't so sure how the bill will do in the Senate.  However, Senate Judiciary Chairman Brian Taniguchi (democrat) said he thinks the bill may have a chance of passing.

"I'm not clear whether it can pass my committee. I believe there's adequate support for it. If it does go to the (Senate) floor, my feeling is that the vote will be somewhat similar to the House," said Taniguchi.

Hawaii is just one of a number of states that is currently debating extending gay marriage rights or civil unions to same-sex couples.  Other states mulling over gay marriage legislation include New York, New Jersey, Washington, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Maine, and Vermont.

To learn more about civil unions or gay marriage laws, click here to find a family law attorney near you.