After nearly 60 hours of oral testimony dominated by opponents of equal marriage, two Hawaii House committees voted on Tuesday to advance their state's marriage equality bill.
"The big issue -- the most important -- was the religious exemption," Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads explained in a press conference on the amended measure.
The House committees that advanced the measure broadened a religious exemption that allows religious groups, including churches and faith-affiliated nonprofits, to refuse services for same-sex couple's marriages.
The measure now awaits a full House vote, and will head back to the Senate for a final vote early next week.
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