After years of hard work — including a dramatic showdown at the end of last years’ legislative session — a civil unions bill has finally passed the Colorado State Legislature. Despite contentious debate, the bill ultimately garnered bi-partisan support in the state house, with all Democrats and two Republicans voting in favor.

The bill will head to the Governor in the next week or two, where he has promised to sign it.

Emotional quotes from lawmakers who have worked for decades on civil rights issues anchored the coverage in the Denver Post:

Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, who has sponsored the civil-unions bill for three years, said its passage is the high point of a decades-long struggle.

…

“Today is really a memorial, remembering those who were shamed because they were gay or had AIDS,” said Sen. Lucia Guzman, D-Denver.

…

Speaker Mark Ferrandino, a gay Denver Democrat who has carried the bill each year, said Senate Bill 11 is about love, family and equality under the law.

“This wasn’t a choice. This is who I am. This is who we are,” he said of being gay. “We need to make laws in our society that respect everyone equally.”

…

Rep. Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins described living for years worried she was going to lose her friends, her family and her job if she revealed she was gay. She only recently came out.

“I could not share personal stories of who I loved, who I went on vacation with, who I shared my home with and why,” she said. “I’ve waited for this recognition for over 40 years. This truly is a historic day for equality in Colorado.”