Gay Couples Begin Sharing Benefits

Homosexual couples in Hawaii began exercising their rights to joint health insurance and property ownership under a new law that guarantees them many of the benefits married couples have. The measure also applies to other domestic partners who cannot marry, such as a widowed mother and her son or daughter. It took effect Tuesday, after Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano let it become law without his signature. Cayetano said he wanted the law to enable gay couples to provide for one another, but had reservations about extending those rights to non-gay domestic partners.