February 15, 2011
Civil unions in Hawaii head toward final vote
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Hawaii's Legislature is poised to pass a bill allowing same-sex civil unions and send it to the governor, who plans to sign it.
The Senate accepted minor amendments to the measure during a voice vote Monday, with a final vote scheduled for Tuesday.
Hawaii would become the seventh state to grant essentially the same rights of marriage to same-sex couples through civil unions or similar laws.
Five other states and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage.
Hawaii's Senate already approved a version of the bill on a 19-6 vote last month. The amendments clarify that civil union partners could file state taxes jointly and get divorced in family court.
If passed, Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie would have 10 days to sign the bill into law. He has said he supports it.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
