Same-sex couples in Hawaii make their civil unions official to kick off the new year. Hawaii and Delaware both legalized civil unions to begin 2012.
Metro Weekly reports:
The new year ushered in legal recognition for many gay and lesbian couples in two new states. Hawaii and Delaware began registering same-sex civil unions on January 1. Meanwhile, in Washington state, there may be movement toward marriage.
Hawaii’s Democratic Governor Neil Abercrombie signed a civil unions bill nearly one year ago after the state House and Senate approved that bill in February of 2011. An earlier civil unions bill had also passed in 2010, but it was blocked by a veto from former Republican Governor, Linda Lingle.
Hawaii is recognized as the first American state to have battled over same-sex marriages. The state’s Supreme Court ruled in 1993 that Hawaii’s ban against gay marriages was unconstitutional. Unfortunately, after much delay, voters passed a discriminatory constitutional amendment in 1998. It gave Hawaii’s legislators the ability to ban same-sex marriages, which they did soon after. The new civil union bill has been seen by some gay rights observers as a positive development, but it also represents a disappointing compromise at a time when other regions are moving toward full marriage equality.
Read the full article via METRO WEEKLY
