When Hawaii’s House of Representatives passed a same-sex marriage bill late Friday, the state joined a wave of activity — mainly of lawsuits and legislation — that has been rapidly growing since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act in June.
After a 12-hour marathon session, the Hawaii House passed SB1 with a 30-19 vote just after 10 p.m. on Friday. The action came just three days after lawmakers approved same-sex marriage legislation in Illinois.
When the vote was tallied at the capitol in Honolulu, hundreds of people crammed into the capitol rotunda, many wearing rainbow-colored leis, and cheered, danced and waved giant rainbow flags. A chant of “Love is love,” broke out.
Opponents of the bill were on hand as well, and they asked that the state consider a 1998 state constitutional amendment that prohibits the Legislature from allowing same-sex marriage.
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