Late Monday night, the Hawaii Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor voted 5-2 to advance the marriage bill to the Senate floor. This is a first and crucial step towards winning marriage equality in Hawaii.
In the group of over 1800 testifiers, Gov. Abercrombie, who ordered the special legislative session for marriage, the state’s Attorney General, statements from U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, and former Supreme Court Justice Steven Levinson, all testified in support of the bill.
Hawaii News Now (HNN) is reporting that the legislature has the votes to pass the bill.
HHN quoted Rep. Mark Takei, who represents the 33rd House District and voted no on civil unions as saying, “I’m a yes.”
Takei continued, “Just like a lot of other people throughout this nation and also throughout this state, I think for me personally I’ve gone through a process and evolution. I’m grateful for this opportunity this next week to vote yes, because it’s the right thing to do.”
“I think a lot has changed. I think when you take a look at the decisions made by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act by the U.S. Supreme Court this past summer — those are pretty significant steps toward equality. I think it’s only fair to provide the same benefits and the opportunities that other states have provided and that the federal government is providing currently. My transformation is based on that, as well as just — I think it’s time for the laws of the state of Hawaii to reflect the aloha spirit,” said Takai.
http://hawaiiunitedformarriage.org/
