Saturday, July 24, 2010

Lingle vetoes civil-unions bill

Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a civil-unions bill yesterday after concluding it was the equivalent to marriage, which she believes should be reserved for a man and a woman.

But Lingle described the emotional issue as too important to be decided solely by the governor or the state Legislature and recommended a state constitutional amendment be placed on the ballot for voters in 2012.

Hundreds of civil-unions opponents, including many who had been praying and singing hymns, roared when word of the governor's veto reached them outside her offices on the fifth floor of the state Capitol.

Dejected gay-rights activists, who had gathered in the courtyard below, vowed to try to pass the bill again next year.

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