Hawaii House Advances ‘Marriage Equality’ Bill After Marathon Session

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The Hawaii House of Representatives has passed its amended version of Senate Bill 1 to give gay couples equal marriage rights under the law.

The vote Friday night was 30 to 19, with two excused, and followed another hours-long floor session. 

Dozens sitting in a literally divided gallery watched as hundreds of others rallied outside in a similarly split Capitol Rotunda.  

The House vote sends the bill back to the Senate, which is set to take it up at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The Senate could give SB 1 the final legislative stamp it needs the same day and send it straight to Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his signature.

Check Civil Beat later for the full story.

— Nathan Eagle

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Top: Marriage equality supporters celebrate in the Capitol Rotunda, Nov. 8, 2013. (Nick Grube/Honolulu Civil Beat)

Above: Gov. Neil Abercrombie confers with his chief of staff, Bruce Coppa, seated in the “marriage equality” side of the gallery in House chambers as lawmakers debate Senate Bill 1, Nov. 8, 2013. (Nathan Eagle/Honolulu Civil Beat)

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