UDPATE: Hawaii and the Marriage Equality Fight

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii lawmakers have declined to vote on a bill that would have allowed same-sex civil unions, effectively killing the measure.

State House leaders said Friday a narrow majority of representatives would have voted for civil unions, but they decided to indefinitely postpone a decision on whether to grant gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits the state provides to married couples.

Civil union supporters in the crowded House gallery on Friday shouted, “Shame on you!” while opponents cheered.

The state Senate had approved a civil unions bill last week. But House leadership wavered on pushing the controversial issue. Last year, 33 of 51 House members voted in favor of civil unions.

Civil union opponents, who have staged several large rallies at the Capitol, wore red “iVote” stickers and white shirts to show unity.

No roll call was taken on the decision to postpone the vote, which shielded representatives from having their positions on the record.

(Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved)