The final House vote was 79-68. Gov. Howard Dean has promised to sign the bill and may do so by the end of the week. The first civil unions ceremonies could take place after July 1.

"The granting of the equal protections of the law by providing the legal protections, benefits and responsibilities that flow from marriage will not diminish your humanity, your dignity, your freedom or independence," House Judiciary Committee Chairman Thomas Little said.

"The continued denial of these legal protections, benefits and responsibilities to a small but vulnerable class of Vermont's citizens diminishes their humanity, dignity, freedom and independence," he said.

Opponents made one last attempt to derail the bill before the final vote. A Republican representative proposed delaying the vote until November 30, after the fall elections, but the move was defeated 84-63.

The bill would create civil unions as a legal framework parallel to marriage.

Same-sex couples would be able to go to their town clerk to obtain a civil union license, just as opposite-sex couples obtain marriage licenses.

The civil unions then would be certified by a justice of the peace, judge or member of the clergy, just as marriages.

Breakups between civil unions partners would be handled like divorces, through Family Court, although they would be called dissolutions.

Civil union partners would gain all of the benefits that the state confers through marriage, such as making medical decisions on behalf of partners or inheritance. The state action, however, has no effect on federal programs, such as Social Security.