Nearly two decades after Colorado became known as the “hate state” for passing a ballot measure aimed at gays, a legislative committee approved a bill that allows same-sex couples to enter into civil unions.

Jubilation and tears followed the historic vote Thursday by a Republican-controlled committee that last year defeated a nearly identical bill.

Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, joined with Democrats in passing Senate Bill 2. She had infuriated some conservatives by refusing to commit to vote against the measure, saying she wanted to first listen to the testimony.

“I think it was the right thing to do. We’re all Coloradans, right?” Nikkel said after voting yes.”

“It’s not something I’m passionate about but I think we ought to move forward and bring it to a vote in the House.”

The vote followed 3 ½ hours of testimony from witnesses and questions from members of the House Judiciary Committee.

Among those who spoke for the measure were three Republicans, parents of gay children and a gay couple.

“I’d like to remind my fellow Republicans, the arc of history bends toward justice,” said Jack Finlaw, who is gay and is the legal counsel for Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Opponents included a Catholic priest and a man who said when he engaged in gay sex he visited strip clubs and participated in orgies.

Former state Sen. Ed Jones, a Colorado Springs Republican who is black and remembers the Ku Klux Klan when growing up in the south, said civil unions is not a civil rights issue.

“I’ve never seen a sign that says ‘gays are not allowed,’ ” he said.

Senate Bill 2 now must go to two other committees, Finance and Appropriations, before going to the entire House, where the sponsor, Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, said he has the votes to get it passed.

Republicans have a 33-32 majority, meaning Ferrandino needs the vote of only one GOP member to pass the measure.

Earlier Thursday Ferrandino, who is gay, said when he told his father he was moving to Colorado his father brought up the “hate state” moniker.

Amendment 2 prohibited laws protecting gays from discrimination. Voters approved the measure, but it was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1996.

If Colorado passes Senate Bill 2, it will become the ninth state to provide state-level recognition of civil unions or domestic partnerships, said Brad Clark, director of the gay-rights group One Colorado.

Six states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriages, which are unconstitutional in Colorado because of a 2006 ballot measure defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

But opponents of civil unions fear the measure is an attempt to undo Colorado’s constitution.

“Civil union laws undermine the case for marriage,” said Byron Babione, with the Alliance Defense Fund. “A vote for this is a vote for same-sex marriage.”

He added that “men and women still provide the most optimum family environment for children,” a comment that set off a series of passionate tweets from those following the hearing.

“ADF lawyer claiming that marriage is ONLY about children. Just not the children of gay parents, apparently,” @sunnivie wrote.

Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com