Hawaii House of Representatives Passes Civil Unions Bill

by Admin

Bill moves to state senate would provide gay and lesbian couples rights provided to married couples under state law.

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights group, today praised Hawaii's House of Representatives for passing a civil unions bill by a 33-17 vote. The bill now moves to the state Senate.

"Human Rights Campaign congratulates Hawaii's House of Representatives for recognizing that all couples and all families deserve basic rights and protections," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "This legislation is simply about moving closer to equality for all residents of Hawaii."

The bill passed by the House would permit gay and lesbian couples to enter into civil unions and receive the benefits, protections, and responsibilities under Hawaii law that are granted to spouses. If the legislation passes the Senate and is enacted into law, couples who enter into a civil union will not receive any rights or benefits under federal law.

Hawaii does not permit gay or lesbian couples to marry. Hawaii law currently permits couples prohibited from marrying under Hawaii law to enter into reciprocal beneficiary relationships and receive limited rights and benefits, not all rights provided to married couples under state law.

In addition to Hawaii, ten states plus Washington, D.C. have laws providing at least some form of state-level relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples. Massachusetts and Connecticut recognize marriage for gay and lesbian couples under state law. Five other states-California, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, and Vermont-plus Washington, D.C. provide gay and lesbian couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Maine and Washington provide gay and lesbian couples with limited rights and benefits, not all rights provided to married couples. New York recognizes marriages by gay and lesbian couples validly entered into outside of New York.

Gay and lesbian couples do not receive federal rights and benefits in any state. To learn more about state by state legislation visit: www.hrc.org/state-laws.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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