Hawaii Close to Passing Civil Unions Law
Monday, May 3, 2010 1:28PM

State lawmakers in Hawaii voted 31-20 in support of a Civil Unions bill that grants same-sex couples the same rights as straight couples.  Next it moves to the (Republican) governor's desk.  She has until July 6 to make a decision. 

It's still not marriage, but it's a step. 

Hawaii was the first state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage, though it was overturned within a day.  Here's a story I did for the Advocate getting reaction from Hawaii after Maine's vote to overturn same-sex marriage in Nov. 2009.