Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) on Monday called a special legislative session for next month aimed at passing a bill to legalize gay marriage in the state.
“The decision to call a special session is based on doing what is right to create equity for all in Hawaii,” Abercrombie said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters. He added that the special session would allow the legislature to “focus squarely” on the issue without being distracted by other legislation.
The special session would convene both houses of the state legislature on October 28, according to Reuters.
Hawaii already allows same-sex civil unions and grants the same benefits and protections to same-sex couples as to couples of the opposite sex. According to Reuters, the new bill would ensure that same-sex couples are afforded the same federal benefits that couples of the opposite sex receive.
Hawaii would be the 14th state, in addition to the District of Columbia, to legalize gay marriage if the bill passes.
