A bill that would have put a proposed constitutional ban before voters passed in the state House this year but died in the Senate, which favored the granting of domestic partnerships to gay couples as a compromise.
Rep. Terrance Tom, D-Kaneohe-Kahaluu, chief proponent of a constitutional amendment as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said public outrage over Chang's decision will propel the Legislature to approve the amendment next year.
"Certainly we tried to remedy the situation in the past - the House did - so that we would not be in this particular predicament that we are now in," he added. "I'm sure that appropriate action will be taken in the next legislative session to let the people decide on the issue of gay marriage."
Jack Hoag, co-vice chairman of the anti-gay-marriage group Hawaii's Future Today, agreed.
"I think this decision will awaken much of the silent majority who by the polls indicate at least three-quarters of them are very much against same-sex marriage and full-fledged domestic partnerships," he said.
Hoag said his group might support legislation that grants gay and lesbian couples certain nonmarital rights, such as hospital visitation and joint property ownership, if it were passed along with a marriage ban.
Tom said he will look into the possibility of calling a special election to take up the proposed constitutional ban.
Still to be determined is the effect of the primary election defeat of Senate Judiciary Chairman Rey Graulty, who opposed a constitutional ban on gay marriage. His successors have traditionally sided with same-sex marriage supporters.
Sens. Matt Matsunaga and Avery Chumbley will head the Judiciary Committee next year under a new system of co-chairmanships.
Matsunaga said he was optimistic about the chances for compromise with the House.
"I think that the 1996 constitutional amendment that was profered by some proponents was clearly defective constitutionally," Matsunaga said. "It depends what type of constitutional amendment is brought forth."
Both supporters and opponents of gay marriage agree the issue would figure prominently at a constitutional convention, which voters narrowly approved in the Nov. 5 general election.
But that result is being challenged in the state Supreme Court by the Hawaii State AFL-CIO.