Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Gay Marriage in Hawaii - East Idaho News
News

Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Gay Marriage in Hawaii

  Published at

GETTY 111313 HawaiiWedding?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1384407545356iStock/Thinkstock(HONOLULU) — Gay marriage is now legal in Hawaii. The Aloha State’s Democratic governor has signed a bill into law that will allow same-sex couples to marry there.

In front of supporters, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed the legislation into law, making Hawaii the 15th state to legalize gay marriage.

“Today, now, all those who have been invisible will be visible to themselves and the whole world,” Abercrombie said Wednesday before signing the bill.

With the governor’s signature comes money — some studies show Hawaii could be in for an economic windfall with gay couples deciding to make the island a destination wedding spot.

Still, opponents say, money or not, the people of Hawaii did not vote for gay marriage and lawmakers should not have done it on their own.

President Obama, a native of Hawaii, praised the passage of the legislation of the Senate vote Tuesday.

“I want to congratulate the Hawaii State Legislature on passing legislation in support of marriage equality,” he said, adding, “By giving loving gay and lesbian couples the right to marry if they choose, Hawaii exemplifies the values we hold dear as a nation.”

Same-sex marriages could start in Hawaii as soon as Dec. 2.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION