CONCORD — Gays and lesbians throughout the Seacoast rejoiced in the House's approval of a civil union bill Wednesday, but even if it makes it past the Senate and the governor's office, it will still fall short of equality.

The House took a historic step toward joining neighboring Vermont and a handful of other states in approving civil unions for same-sex couples. It voted 243-129 for civil unions that would give same-sex couples the same rights, responsibilities and obligations as married couples. Same-sex unions from other states would be recognized if they are legal in the state where they were performed.

Melissa Weeks, of Exeter, was at the hearing and called it powerful and passionate.

She had a holy union with a woman who has since died and said, "I am a widow in everyones' eyes except the government."

She had no spousal benefits like heterosexual couples.

"We will continue to pay higher taxes than heterosexuals and receive less benefits until the IRS includes us in its definition of family," she said. "But I think people are beginning to realize there needs to be a separation between church and state, and everyone has a right to their personal beliefs, but we all have a right to equality."

Becky May, of Portsmouth, said if the bill passes, she and her partner of eight years, Bobbi Miller, will take advantage of the opportunity. She said it is just a matter of time before homosexuals are given equal rights.

"I think more and more people are seeing we're just living our lives like they are. We're the same as them and we deserve the same rights," said May. "I think it'd be good if we didn't have a separate category, but this is an important first step, and hopefully it will continue the conversation."

Lee Swislow, executive director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, said the gains in rights are important to many families, but maintaining discrimination in the law makes it bittersweet.

The bill was expected to pass, but the debate dragged to three hours, with opponents throwing out last-minute changes and plenty of lawmakers on both sides wanting to be heard.

One legislator tried to sidetrack civil unions by proposing relationship contracts for unmarried adults. That failed. Another proposed expanding civil unions to any two unmarried people.

Republican Rep. Maureen Mooney, a marriage opponent, turned the equality argument against gay rights activists. She said restricting civil unions to same sex-couples amounted to discrimination against heterosexual couples, roommates and others who might want to share legal benefits as a couple.

"We in New Hampshire will establish ourselves as a leader in caring for all combinations of family relationships," she said. "I say let's get to equality today." Democrats called it an attempt to confuse the issue.

"I've not received one e-mail, one letter, one phone call from any two brothers seeking to enter a relationship. Have you?" asked Rep. David Pierce, D-Hanover.

The House used a competing bill to legalize gay marriage to launch a study. Gay marriage supporters argue that civil unions would amount to separate-but-equal discrimination.

The civil unions bill now goes to the Senate, where Republican Bob Clegg has proposed legalizing "contractual cohabitation" as an alternative. His bill would give gays and other adults who don't choose to marry the same legal rights as married couples.

Gov. John Lynch opposes same-sex marriage but has avoided taking a position on civil unions.

"I will weigh in on it once I make up my mind on it," he said Wednesday.

Lynch supports providing health care benefits to state workers' same-sex partners.

If the bill becomes law, New Hampshire will join Vermont, New Jersey and Connecticut in allowing civil unions. Massachusetts is the only state that allows gays to marry.

California authorizes domestic partnerships with benefits similar to civil unions.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Where states stand on same-sex marriage

Massachusetts is the only state that recognizes same-sex marriages, the result of a 2003 ruling by its Supreme Judicial Court. Three other states — Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey — have civil unions that extend marriage-like rights to same-sex couples. California, Hawaii and Maine have granted various spousal rights to same-sex couples registered as domestic partners. According to the Human Rights Campaign, all but five states — Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island — have adopted constitutional amendments or statutes banning gay marriage. New Hampshire's ban is statutory. The federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages, whether performed in Massachusetts or abroad. Congress has twice failed to approve a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban gay marriage nationwide.

— The Associated Press