THE Hawaii Legislature today passed a bill making civil unions for same-sex couples legal in the state and have sent the bill to Democratic Governor Neil Abercrombie for his signature.

Under the bill, same sex couples will be given a legal status with rights, benefits and protections similar to married heterosexual couples. Although the civil union is a different statute than marriage, it gives gay and lesbian couples access to family courts, establishes clear legal responsibility for child support and alimony, among others.

Similar bills have been introduced in Hawaii every year since 2001. One was passed last year but was vetoed by then-Republican Governor Linda Lingle.

Governor Abercrombie has said he will sign the bill within 10 days of its passage and the unions will begin on January 1, 2012.

Hawaii is the seventh state to grant essentially the same rights of marriage to same-sex couples without allowing them to marry.

Five states - Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont - and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage.

Originally published as Same-sex marriages almost legal in Hawaii