Revival Unlikely for
Hawaii Civil Unions Bill

Lack of support from a key senator makes it unlikely that a civil unions bill will be revived in the Hawaii legislature today, according to the Honolulu Advertiser.

State senator Brian Taniguchi (pictured), the chairman of the senate judiciary and government operations committee, said he likely would not recall the bill from the committee, where it stalled in a 3-3 vote in February.

Although Taniguchi, a Democrat, earlier said he would recall the bill from his committee, recent appeals from the senate leadership reportedly have contributed to his about-face. He also expressed concern about the inability to garner the two-thirds votes needed in both chambers of the legislature to override a veto threat from Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican.

The Hawaii civil unions bill would give same-sex partners the same rights and benefits as married couples under state law. It would also afford out-of-state domestic partnerships, civil unions, and same-sex marriages the same recognition as civil unions in Hawaii.