Hawaii House approves same-sex marriage bill

HONOLULU, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Hawaii's House of Representatives has passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage after the state's Senate passed a similar bill in October, officials said.

The bill, passed by the House Friday, must now go back to the Senate so changes the House made can be considered and agreed upon. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has said he would sign such a bill, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Abercrombie issued a proclamation Oct. 28 requiring the state Legislature to consider same-sex marriage legislation.

The governor said at that time he wanted the Legislature "to focus squarely on this important issue, without having to divert attention to the hundreds of other bills introduced during a regular session."

If the bill is enacted and signed into law, Hawaii would become the 16th state to allow same-sex marriage, The New York Times reported.