HONOLULU, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The governor of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie, said he has called a special legislative session on the legalization of same-sex marriage.
He said he has the support needed in both the House and the Senate to pass a bill that would make Hawaii the 14th state to legalize same-sex marriage, HawaiiNewsNow.com reported.
"It's time for marriage equity to take place, and it's also time to recognize that it can take place without violating the religious principals of anybody in this state," Abercrombie said during the announcement Monday.
The special session will take place Oct. 28.
If the bill passes, marriage licenses and ceremonies will be effective Nov. 18, HawaiiNewsNow.com said.
Public hearings will be part of the special session, which will last four or five days and cost $25,800.
Some lawmakers have objected to Abercrombie's announcement, HawaiiNewsNow.com said.
"I think the people out there really are not totally for this. I think it's an exception that we have a special session for what now is for a very select, very narrow reason. There's not a state or a federal guarantee to same-sex marriage, so why are we rushing?" state Rep. Gene Ward said.
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