Hawaii Guv Vetoes Same-Sex Civil Unions

Ending months of tense speculation, Hawaii's governor yesterday vetoed a bill to allow same-sex civil unions. Republican Linda Lingle made her decision on the last day she had to consider the bill, which the Hawaiian legislature passed in April. State legislators don't have the votes to override her veto. "I have been open and consistent in my opposition to same-gender marriage, and find that House Bill 444 is essentially marriage by another name," Lingle said.

The bill would have given gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits that the state provides to married couples, making Hawaii one of 6 states that essentially grant the rights of marriage to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself (6 other states and DC allow same-sex marriage). "We had hoped the governor would do the right thing for civil rights an equality," one of many disappointed civil union supporters gathered in Honolulu told AP. "This battle is far from over." (More Hawaii stories.)