Civil union bill on way to Hawaii governor

HONOLULU, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The Hawaii state Senate has approved a bill that would give same-sex couples nearly all of the rights and benefits as heterosexual couples.

The chamber approved the measure that would legalize civil unions in Hawaii on an 18-5 vote Wednesday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser said.

The measure now goes to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who supports civil unions and has promised to sign the bill into law. His predecessor, Linda Lingle, vetoed a similar measure more than seven months ago.

Abercrombie said in a statement civil unions "respect our diversity, protect people's privacy, and reinforce our core values of equality and aloha. … For me, this bill represents equal rights for all the people of Hawaii."

Tim Earhart, president of Dignity USA-Honolulu, said the vote he witnessed was a "historic moment when lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people are now elevated to the status of ordinary citizens. We no longer have to apologize for loving one another."

Hawaii would become the seventh state to grant civil unions to same-sex couples. Five states and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage.