Hawaii lawmakers
effectively killed a proposal to create civil unions for
gay couples by declining to vote on the legislation.
Hawaii lawmakers
effectively killed a proposal to create civil unions for
gay couples by declining to vote on the legislation.
More than 100
people packed the House Judiciary Committee hearing
Tuesday, many waving pink signs reading, ''Civil Unions.
Equal protection, justice for all.'' At least 400
people submitted extensive written or oral testimony.
After five hours
of testimony, though, the committee declined to vote.
Representatives offered little explanation to the public,
but it was a sign that the bill lacked enough support
to become law.
Civil unions had
been suggested as a way for the state to sidestep a
controversy over gay marriage, but they proved to be nearly
as contentious.
Opponents argued
that civil unions were being used as a step toward
legalizing gay marriage. Proponents said they want the legal
guarantees granted to married couples, such as tax
breaks, adoption rights, and health benefits.
''This is
essentially a reexamination of the same-sex marriage issue,
except with a different title,'' said Kelly Rosati, a
spokeswoman for the Hawaii Catholic Church and
executive director for the Hawaii Family Forum.
Gay rights
advocates said the law was needed in order to give same-sex
couples the same rights as heterosexuals.
''For me, it's
very clear cut that it's gender discrimination,'' said
Scott Orton, who is gay. ''I would like to take on a partner
in the future and have the same rights as a married
person.''
Hawaii nearly
legalized gay marriages more than a decade ago before stiff
public opposition came from family advocacy groups, the
Catholic Church, and the Mormon Church.
A decision by the
Hawaii Supreme Court would have allowed same-sex
marriages, but a 1998 constitutional amendment and a law
defined marriage as between two people of opposite
sexes.
Vermont,
Connecticut, and New Jersey already have civil union laws.
Massachusetts is the only state to allow same-sex marriages.
(Mark Niesse, AP)
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