HI: Anti Gay Protesters Rally Ahead of Civil Unions Vote

Social conservatives in Hawaii held a large rally Sunday at the State Capitol to protest a bill that would recognize gay couples with civil unions. The bill ran aground during last year's legislative session after over 6,000 anti-gay protesters stormed the Capitol the Sunday before a key Senate committee vote. The bill deadlocked on a 3-3 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The final tally came after a grueling 18 hour marathon hearing that ended at 3AM. Six senators voted in favor of pulling the bill from committee and putting it up for a vote, but the effort fell short of the 9 votes needed to move the bill. A second effort just days before the end of the legislative session succeeded in retrieving the bill. Senators quickly amended the bill to include both gay and straight couples but the session ended without a vote on the measure. The amended bill needs the approval of both chambers of the Legislature to move to the governor's desk. Previously, the House approved the original bill on a 33 to 17 vote. Full Story from On Top Magazine

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