Hawaii State Senate Backs Gay Marriage

Bill heads to state House
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 30, 2013 10:12 PM CDT
Hawaii State Senate Backs Gay Marriage
Members of the Hawaii Senate convene on the Senate floor of the Hawaii Capitol in Honolulu on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013. The senators passed a gay marriage bill, sending the measure to the House.   (AP Photo/Oskar Garcia)

In a 20-4 vote, Hawaii's state Senate has passed a bill to allow gay marriage; the bill now heads to the state House of Representatives, where the vote could be closer, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser notes. That chamber is also likely to amend the Senate's version of the bill, which says clergy aren't required to perform ceremonies. "The House committees recognize that there is still a lot of public concern about the scope of the exemptions," says majority leader Scott Saiki. Any amendment would need a Senate review before heading to the governor's office. (More Hawaii stories.)

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