Hawaii is close to being the next state to legalize gay marriage, The Los Angeles Times reported.

All political branches are on board: The House of Representatives approved a bill on Friday night, Governor Neil Abercrombie, whose proclamation on Oct. 28 led to both houses meeting to discuss the issue of gay marriage, said he'd sign it, and the Senate approved a similar bill last month by a vote of 20 to 5, according to The Times.

Left to consider are amendments for churches and other religious groups who wish to remain separate from gay marriages and weddings. Representative Jo Jordan, who is openly gay, summarized the final issue preventing the bill from becoming law.

"How do we protect individuals and give other individuals rights? I haven't heard that question answered yet," Jordan said.

Once that question is answered - and the final amendments are worked out - the bill will return to the Senate for another vote, according to The Times.

Fourteen states and Washington D.C. allow same-sex marriage, according to The Times. Illinois, which passed a bill on Tuesday that Governor Pat Quinn said he'd sign, should join Hawaii as the next two. Current Hawaiian law grants civil unions to same sex couples.

Abercrombie has been ardent on the issue of gay marriage. When he called both houses to meet in late October, he wanted them to focus only on the issue at hand, and leave any other discussions for another time, according to The Times.

"In Hawaii, we believe in fairness, justice and human equality, and that everyone is entitled to the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else, including the ability to get married," Abercrombie said in June, as superme court rulings forced the federal Defense of Marriage Act open to gay marriage. "I believe my position to support a constitutional right to same-sex marriage in Hawaii and elsewhere was given a substantial boost by today's Supreme Court rulings. I will continue to work to assure justice and equality for all."