Republican Senator: Hawaii marriage equality bill will likely pass

According to the state's only Republican Senator, legislators likely have the votes they need to make same-sex marriage a reality here in Hawaii. A constitutional amendment passed in 1998 gave Hawaii's legislature the power to define marriage. Right now, that only applies to heterosexual couples, but Senator Sam Slom says that could soon be changing. Same-sex marriage proposals are introduced every year and have always failed, but Senator Slom believes Senate Bill 1369 has the support to pass this legislative session-- though he plans to vote against it. "Same sex marriage probably will pass this year. You've got a preponderance of Democrats who support it in both Houses, you've got the Congressional delegation, you've got our Governor!" said Senator Slom. And you've got women like Renea Stewart and Lisa Veneri who've been together for 19 years, and want just one thing. "The same rights that everyone else is afforded," said Veneri. "I mean we go to work, we pay our taxes, we have a mortgage." "Yeah, we're just your normal everyday couple. We just happen to be born gay," said Stewart.