HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – Keith Choate and Mark Ceneri turned to each other, grinning. Then they embraced.

State representatives had just voted 85-63 to allow same-sex civil unions, something Choate and Ceneri had been waiting for since they became a couple five years ago. The state Senate passed a similar measure the week prior.

“We wanted something that was meaningful,” said a beaming Choate. “We wanted something that was real.”

The House action on April 13 came after more than six hours of debate, much of it centered on adding a definition of marriage – the union of a man and a woman. Gov. M. Jodi Rell praised the lawmakers for approving what she called “a stronger and clearer” bill and vowed to sign the proposal if senators sign off on the amended version.

If the Senate does agree to the legislation, Connecticut becomes the first state to voluntarily establish civil unions. Court rulings – handed down in lawsuits brought by gay and lesbian couples – mandated civil unions in Vermont and same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

The state Senate is expected to take up the matter this week.

In Oregon, meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski vowed to push for a law allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions. The Oregon Supreme Court struck down the validity of 3,000 marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples last year on April 14.

Back in Connecticut, dozens of same-sex couples wearing bright yellow “Equality” stickers watched as the representatives cast their votes. Choate and Ceneri had been listening to radio reports on the debate all day. They were monitoring it from home when they decided to jump in the car and watch the moment for themselves.

“I think the Connecticut Legislature and the state of Connecticut as a whole showed how we’re perhaps head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to being open-minded and tolerant of our citizens,” said Democratic Rep. Michael Lawlor, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee and a key proponent.

The other committee co-chair, also a Democrat, agreed.

“This is a vote and this is a process that will reverberate around the country,” said Sen. Andrew McDonald, one of a handful of openly gay legislators. He expects the Senate to approve the House version.

Also in the Capitol’s gallery were opponents wearing white “Protect Marriage” stickers.

Marie Hilliard, executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference, called the amendment defining marriage “a huge victory.” Although it is not as strong as a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, Hilliard said she believes it provides some protection from court action.

Last summer, seven same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in Connecticut sued the state. The case is slowly winding its way through the legal system.

But Hilliard said she was still dismayed that the revised civil unions bill appears headed for passage. If the bill becomes law, she said it is a defeat for the family.

Amendment or not, Republican Rep. Al Adinolfi still opposed the legislation.

“This bill is the same as same sex-marriages except it’s called civil unions,” he said. “If you have identical twins, one is named Mary, and one is Jane, one is Joe and one is Jim. They’re still twins.”

Opponents, who have inundated legislators with thousands of emails in recent weeks, are not giving up hope. A massive rally is planned for later this month at the state Capitol. They plan to pressure Rell to veto the bill.

Even if the bill passes, some gay activists won’t be entirely happy.

“From my perspective, they’re giving with one hand and taking with the other,” said Mary Bonauto, a Boston lawyer who led a successful fight for same-sex marriage rights in neighboring Massachusetts and was disappointed the Connecticut legislation was amended with the marriage definition.

“In the end, they have completely accepted and put into law the second-class status of gay and lesbian families in Connecticut,” she said. “That is a very bitter pill to swallow.”