Hawaii Rejects Gay Unions

Ending months of tense speculation, Hawaii's governor yesterday vetoed a bill to allow same-sex civil unions. Republican Linda Lingle made her decision on the last day she had to consider the bill, which the Hawaiian legislature passed in April. State legislators don't have the votes to override her veto. "I have been open and consistent in my opposition to same-gender marriage, and find that House Bill 444 is essentially marriage by another name," Lingle said.

The bill would have given gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits that the state provides to married couples, making Hawaii one of 6 states that essentially grant the rights of marriage to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself (6 other states and DC allow same-sex marriage). While some Gays don't want the obligations associated with marriage, they do want to cash in on employment benefits offered married partners by various employers, especially civil service. This would increase taxes, in order to pay out such benefits.

Overall, Democrats support gay marriage and benefits, while Republicans do not. In America, public polls show the majority of citizens are opposed to gay marriage, but most newspapers and TV news networks support it. See Chick's THE GAY BLADE.