TRENTON — A state Assembly committee today approved legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry, setting the stage for a showdown in two weeks between Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Chris Christie, who has vowed to veto the measure.

A 6 1/2-hour hearing preceeded the vote, and while many of the same people who turned out for a Senate panel hearing last week showed up once again, the smaller crowd was far more vocal.

Ultimately, the Judiciary Committee passed the bill along party lines, 5-2, sending it to the full Assembly for a vote on Feb. 16. The Senate is poised to take up the legislation on Feb. 13.

Many supporters of the measure introduced their families to committee members and asked that they be recognized as legitimately married like their heterosexual counterparts.

But opponents of the bill argued that any change in the definition of marriage would undo 500 years of law and tradition and diminish the sanctity of matrimony.

Jean Ann DeBenedetto, a minister from Hope Township, said homosexuals "have an emotional issue and we should try to help" them rather than codify a law, prompting an outburst from one audience member.

"The more single households we have, the more of this lifestyle we’re going to see," DeBenedetto contended.

But a man in the audience, who was quickly chided by Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex), the committee chairman, shouted, "No, I will not let you talk like this."

Among the first speakers were Jon and Michael Galluccio, a couple from North Haledon, whose fight to raise a family led New Jersey to pass a law expanding adoption rights to same-sex couples in 1997. They said New Jersey was a leader among states then, but no longer is.

It is still not clear whether a bill will even reach Christie’s desk. Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), a sponsor of the measure, acknowledged that so far he has not lined up majority in his chamber.

Gusciora said today he was close to getting at least 41 votes, an Assembly majority, and would spend the next two weeks firming up support.

Washington State, with a Democratic legislature and governor, is on the brink of passing a same-sex marriage bill. The Senate there approved it Wednesday and the House, where it has wide support, may vote on it as early as next week. It would be become the seventh state, along with Washington, D.C., to approve of same-sex marriage.

Jenna Portnoy contributed to this report.