Hawaii Senate Passes and Sends To Governor Bill Authorizing Civil Unions

The Hawaii Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 18-5 passed and sent to the governor for his signature SB 232, a bill authorizing same-sex (as well as opposite-sex) civil unions in the state.  The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that Gov. Neil Abercrombie has promised to sign the bill into law.  Last year, former governor Linda Lingle vetoed a similar bill. (See prior posting.) Under the bill, parties to a civil union have the same rights and responsibilities as a married couple. Any judge or member of the clergy may be licensed to solemnize a civil union, but no one is required to perform civil union ceremonies, nor may anyone be penalized for refusing to do so. Hawaii will be the seventh state to authorize civil unions, but not same-sex marriages. Also on Wednesday, the Hawaii Senate unanimously approved the governor's appointment of Circuit Judge Sabrina McKenna-- who is openly gay-- to the state Supreme Court.