DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has signed a bill that allows civil unions for gay couples.
The law takes effect May 1.
The passage of civil unions in Colorado is particularly remarkable because of its gay-marriage ban, and because voters approved a ban on municipal antidiscrimination laws to protect gays in 1992.
Civil unions grant gay couples rights similar to marriage.
It's a big turnaround in a state where voters banned gay marriage in 2006.
Colorado will join eight states that have civil unions or similar laws. Nine states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage.
Last May, Democrats said they had enough votes to pass the bill. But Republicans who controlled the House by one vote prevented debate on the bill.
Democrats took control of the House in November and retained the Senate.
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