Hawaii to consider civil unions bill

Hawaii’s Senate is to vote this Wednesday on a civil unions bill.

If passed, it will provide same-sex couples in the US state all of the rights and benefits of marriage.

It easily passed the legislature last year but stalled after protests from conservatives.

Alan Spector of Equality Hawaii was positive about the chances of it passing into law.

He said: “This bill has already been voted on, so there isn’t as much convincing to do anymore/

“I think [legislators] get the substance of the bill and the need for the bill.”

Yesterday, thousands of conservatives held a rally outside the State Capitol to protest over the proposed legislation.

Many protested that marriage was reserved for a man and a woman, despite the bill having no effect on Hawaii’s marriage law.