Hawaii Governor Vetoes Civil Unions Bill; Litigation Planned

Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle yesterday vetoed House Bill 444 that would have given partners in both same-sex and opposite-sex civil unions the same benefits and responsibilities that are enjoyed by married couples. In her veto message (full text) and her statement (full text) accompanying it, Lingle decried the manner in which the legislature's vote on the bill took place (background), and called on the legislature to submit the issue of civil unions to Hawaii's voters. Time, reporting on the veto, indicates that the Hawaii Catholic Conference praised the governor's decision. Now the ACLU and other groups supporting civil unions plan to file suit in state court arguing that Hawaii's state constitution assures LGBT families equal rights and benefits with heterosexual families. (KITV News). (See prior related posting.)