HONOLULU — Barely a year after some 15,000 Christians successfully rallied in opposition to same-sex civil unions at the Hawaii capitol, newly elected Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill into law Feb. 23 legalizing such unions, thus making Hawaii the 12th state to recognize either gay “marriage,” civil unions or their equivalent.
The new law — which takes effect in January 2012 — will grant same-sex couples all the state legal benefits of marriage, without the name “marriage.” The Hawaii House passed it this year, 31–19, the Senate, 18–5. Opponents of gay “marriage” warn legalization would have a wide-ranging effect on society, impacting the tax-exempt status of religious organizations, the religious liberty of private businesses and the curriculum in elementary schools. (TAB)
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