It looks like Hawaii may quickly follow Illinois in passing a marriage equality bill.
Think Progress reports:
After five grueling days of testimony from thousands of individuals, the Hawaii House Judicial and Finance Committees — meeting jointly — advanced marriage equality legislation to the full chamber. The committees added three amendments to the bill. The first set the start date for December 2, 2013. The second removed section 572-C from the bill, which asserted parents’ rights and responsibilities including paternity, maternity, and parentage presumptions based on marriage. Lastly, the committee added religious protections similar to those included in Connecticut’s marriage equality law, protecting religious organizations from having to participate in the solemnization of a same-sex marriage.
The full House will meet again to take up the bill today. Because the bill is amended, it will have to go back to the Senate for the approval once the House votes.
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