The Hawaii state House Judiciary
Committee has decided against hearing a gay marriage bill.
Thursday is the deadline for lawmakers
to take action on the measure.
About 150 supporters gathered at the
state Capitol on Monday to call on lawmakers to act before the
deadline.
The committee chairman told reporters
that there is insufficient support on the panel to advance the
measure to the House, according to the Star
Advertiser.
The decision could mean that the issue
is dead for this legislative session.
Meanwhile, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell
joined Mayors for the Freedom to Marry on Monday and called on
lawmakers to approve marriage equality in the state.
“Hawaii has a long history of
leadership in equal rights,” Caldwell said in a statement. “We
have been a leader on rights for the LGBT community, enacting
domestic partnerships then civil unions. Now it is time for us to
cross the finish line and grant true equal rights with marriage
equality.”
“I strongly support the
constitutional right of every person to practice their own religious
beliefs, and we should never infringe on that. No religious
organization will be forced to conduct a ceremony that is against
their teachings. However, committed LGBT couples also have a right
to be treated equally under the law, to have their marriages
recognized by the state and have equal rights to hospital visitation,
work benefits, and tax equity that heterosexual couples enjoy.”