Civil Unions, Then and Now

Katherine Poythress/Civil Beat

On April 29 last year, in the very last moments of the very last day of the 2010 Hawaii Legislature, the state House unexpectedly passed on a 31-20 vote House bill 444, legalizing civil unions.

The vote angered opponents of the measure, who argued they had been blindsided. Supporters, of course, were thrilled, as civil unions had been judged dead three months earlier when the House declined to accept the Senate's amended version.

What followed was a dramatic buildup to HB 444's veto by Gov. Linda Lingle and the elevation of civil unions as a central issue in fall elections.

What a difference a year makes.

Senate Bill 232, which was identical to HB 444 until amended by the House last week, smoothly passed the Senate Wednesday and was sent to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has promised to sign the historic legislation — which happens to be the very first bill sent to the new governor.

Civil Beat compares then and now to learn how it all happened.

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