Hawaii: Marriage equality bill passes out of Senate committee

After 12 hours of hearing from hundreds of people on both sides of the contentious gay marriage issue, the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee passed Senate Bill 1 allowing same-sex couples to marry in Hawaii.

The committee voted 5-2 shortly after 10 p.m. Sens. Sam Slom, a Republican, and Mike Gabbard, a Democrat, voted against the bill.

The bill heads to the full Senate where many believe it will pass with vote close to 21-4. From there, it's the House's turn.

HawaiiNewsNow has polled the state reps and there appear to be 27 votes FOR the bill. Twenty-six are needed for passage. There are 7 undecided votes at this time. All are from Democrat districts.

Stay tuned.

(source)