CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire is set to become the fourth state to offer civil unions for gay couples with legislation approved Thursday and sent to Gov. John Lynch, who has said he would sign it.

"This legislation is a matter of conscience, fairness and of preventing discrimination," said governor's spokesman Colin Manning. "It is in keeping with New Hampshire's proud tradition of preventing discrimination."

Shortly after the Democratic-controlled Senate passed the bill 14-10 along party lines, one of the state's best-known gay residents said he would use it.

"My partner and I look forward to taking full advantage of the new law," said Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson, whose 2003 consecration shook up the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Union.

New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont already offer civil unions for gay couples. Massachusetts in 2004 became the only state to allow gay marriage.

Unlike other states, there was no active court challenge to push New Hampshire to act on the issue.

In fact, the success of civil unions was an about-face from two years earlier, when a study panel of lawmakers and community leaders recommended that New Hampshire give no meaningful consideration to extending legal recognition to gay couples.

That panel had concluded homosexuality was a choice, and it endorsed a constitutional amendment to limit marriage to unions between a man and a woman.

State lawmakers have defeated proposed constitutional bans on same-sex marriage two years in a row.

Sponsors of the civil unions bill called it a door to marriage in all aspects but name. Opponents argued it would lead to the collapse of traditional values.

"Let's just call it what it really is, no sugarcoating," said Republican Sen. Robert Letourneau. "This creates same-sex marriage. There is no right to marriage in either the New Hampshire Constitution or the federal Constitution."

"We don't let blind people drive or felons vote, all for good and obvious reasons," he said.