Hawaii

Elton John is vacationing in Hawaii with partner David Furnish (pictured) and their baby Zach, just days after civil unions were legally recognized in the state. Zach celebrated his first birthday on Christmas Day. Furnish, a 48-year-old film producer, will be known as Papa by the child – with Sir Elton being called Daddy. Last week, Sir Elton told how he wants Zachary to have as normal an upbringing as possible, saying he wanted the youngster to have "a solid old fashioned childhood.

Hawaii and Delaware join the list of states which recognize same-sex civil unions. Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island already recognize civil unions providing state-level spousal rights to same-sex couples. Six other states and Washington, D.C. allow same-sex marriage - creating a patchwork of U.S. legislation for same-sex couples who want to legalize their unions. Marriage licenses are given to same-sex couples in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and D.C. California's struggle for marriage equality is stayed pending an appeal.

Hawaii lawmakers approved a bill to allow civil unions for same-sex couples. Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie's office said he intends to sign the bill into law within 10 business days. Civil unions would begin Jan. 1, 2012, making the state the seventh in the nation to grant essentially the same rights of marriage to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself. The bill, approved by 69 percent of voters, was a response to a 1993 state Supreme Court decision that nearly legalized marriage equality.

Hawaii's House passed a civil union bill yesterday by a vote of 33-15, one vote short of a veto-proof majority:

The Oregon House passed two bills that will allow same-sex couples the same benefits as married couples, and protection against discrimination. Governor Ted Kulongoski plans to sign both.

The first bill would enable same-sex couples to enter into contractual relationships that grant them the same benefits offered to married couples under state law. The bill refers to the relationships as domestic partnerships.