HONOLULU, Hawaii – Same sex marriage is now legal in the state of Hawaii, after Governor Neil Abercrombie signed Senate Bill 1 House Draft 1 into law on Wednesday. A private bill signing ceremony – by invitation only – was held at the Hawaii Convention Center and livestreamed by the Office of the Governor.
The final vote on SB1 may have been a mere formality, but the Hawaii State Senate made history on Tuesday, voting to approve a law granting equal rights and benefits to same sex couples in marriage.
The Senate took just a few hours to accept the amendments to SB1 made by the State House and pass the measure with a 19-4 vote on final reading; a quick procedure compared to the all-day debate that Representatives had on Friday.
The Office of the Governor issued a media release when the signing ceremony was over. Abercrombie was quoted:
 Gov. Neil Abercrombie, 11.13.13 |
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This is the second time Governor Abercrombie has served as a strong advocate for equal rights. In 2011, the first bill he signed into law as Governor of Hawaii legalized civil unions. Hawaii was the seventh state to grant such privileges to same-sex couples. Then, in June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a key provision of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that denied federal benefits to same-sex couples who were married under state law. The state says the court’s decision means that same-sex couples who are married in states where it is legal can take advantage of tax breaks, pension rights and other benefits available to married couples.
The new law takes effect on Dec. 2, 2013.
This is an issue that the entire State should have given each individual the right to vote for or against. This Nation was founded on God, one God, much prayer went into decisions made. Marriage is between one man and one woman. The main fact is that the people of Hawai’i did not get to vote and exercise their right.
Actually this nation was founded by those seeking freedom to practice their religious beliefs without control and repression from the government and church which were so connected; they sought a new world for freedom!!! The U.S. was founded on freedom and separation of church and state. This battle is a human rights issue; not a religious issue!!!
It is a religious issue!! this will give a certain population more rights so that they can sue churches for personal gain and or the possibility of forcing church leaders to marry these couples when it is not in their beliefs to do so… Whatever happened to “freedom of religion” this was conflict of gain/benefits rather than what marriage is really about which is “Love” since when does the Liberal agenda become a big priority in the country!!? we already voted for this!!! lets move into the bigger problem!! my gosh!