In a surprise move,
the Hawaii House passed a civil unions bill in the final hours of their session. It has already passed the Senate and now moves to Republican Governor Linda Lingle for signature. She has not said whether she will sign it. The bill would give unmarried gay and heterosexual couples the same rights as married couples under state law.
Earlier in the session, the House failed to act on the bill in the face of a large opposition rally at which people were bussed in from churches after Sunday services.
When the bill passed the Senate, Lt. Governor James Ioana promised that, if passed into law, civil unions would be defeated in a ballot measure in November.
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