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Hawaii nixes same-sex civil unions bill
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| Contributor | Eddie |
| Last Edited | Eddie Jan 29, 2010 11:51pm |
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| Category | News |
| Author | Mark Niesse |
| News Date | Saturday, January 30, 2010 04:30:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | HONOLULU (AP) -- Hawaii lawmakers declined to vote Friday on a bill that would have allowed same-sex civil unions, effectively doing away with the measure.
State House leaders said a narrow majority of representatives would have voted for civil unions, but they decided to indefinitely postpone a decision on whether to grant gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits the state provides to married couples.
Civil union supporters in the crowded House gallery on Friday shouted, "Shame on you!" while opponents cheered.
"It's an election year, and they're more concerned about keeping their seats than doing what's right," said Stephen Nagle of Kaaawa, wearing a rainbow lei in support of civil unions.
The state Senate had approved a civil unions bill last week. But House leadership wavered on pushing the controversial issue. Last year, 33 of 51 House members voted in favor of civil unions.
Civil union opponents, who have staged several large rallies at the Capitol, wore red "iVote" stickers and white shirts to show unity.
"We're a very tolerant society, but I don't think we're willing to accept same-sex marriage, or as they call it, civil unions," said Dennis Arakaki, head of the Hawaii Family Forum and Hawaii Catholic Conference.
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