Hawaii Senate committee advances marriage bill to full floor vote

Yesterday, October 28, a key Hawaii committee voted to advance a bill to extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples in Hawaii. The Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee voted 5-2 to send the bill to the full Senate, where a vote is expected this week.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser spoke with HI Sen. Clayton Hee, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary  and Labor Committee. Sen. Lee said, "It's historic in the sense that there's a huge paradigm shift, but it's a shift that, in my opinion, bends the arc of justice towards the right way. It takes us to a new level of equal rights."

It's a big week for the freedom to marry in Hawaii. HI Governor Neil Abercrombie has convened a Special Session for the purpose of passing the marriage bill that gained momentum earlier this year. Marriage supporters across the state, led by Hawaii United for Marriage, have been working hard to show legislators in Hawaii that it's time for marriage. 

Now, the full Senate will have the opportunity to vote on the marriage bill. If it passes the Senate, it will be placed before the House, beginning with a hearing by the House Judiciary and Finance committees on Thursday, October 31 at 10am.