More than 40 couples braved chilly conditions outside the State House last night to be among the first in the state to celebrate a civil union. Shortly after midnight, they walked two-by-two under an archway and into state history.

“We are here to support the right to do this,” said Melissa Leclerc, who was joined last night with her partner of 10 years, Ellie Swiezynski. The Manchester couple read about the State House ceremonies just two weeks ago.

“As soon as I read it, I said, ‘We’re going to be right there,’” Swiezynski said. With them came Leclerc’s sister, Jessica Denmark and friend Deanna Chapman and Swiezynski’s parents.

At midnight, New Hampshire became the fourth state in the country to honor civil unions. But it is the first to take that step voluntarily and without the pressure of a lawsuit. (Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey have also legalized civil unions. Massachusetts permits gay marriage.)

Portsmouth and the North Country will celebrate the new law with civil union events today. Supporters in Concord chose not to wait and invited couples to gather on the State House plaza at 11 last night and exchange vows just after midnight.

What was expected to be a ceremony for about 20 couples and their friends became a mass gathering of nearly 200 people.

So many couples arrived at the last minute, without preregistering, organizers had to hold the civil unions in two batches.

Once couples had cleared the archway, they made their ways to one of several clergy members or justices of the peace on hand. Ministers included the Revs. Jed Rardin and Carlos Jauhola-Straight from South Congregational Church in Concord, as well as the Revs. Leanne Tigert, Tess Baumberger and Mary Wellemeyer.

John Davey and Mark Brodeur of Stratham were among those that decided late to make the drive to Concord.

The couple was vacationing in the Florida Keyes when they learned they’d be able to get a civil union at midnight. They returned home to get a license in time for last night’s event.

The couple celebrated their relationship 10 years ago with a ceremony in Portsmouth but have always regretted not being able to legalize their union. “That (first ceremony) was for us to say we love each other, we are committed” Davey said. “This is for us to say to the world, ‘We are together.’”

The event drew a lone protestor, Michael Hein of the Christian Civil League of Maine, quietly handed out a statement calling all sex outside of heterosexual marriage a sin but did not disrupt the event. New Year’s revelers and state representatives who supported the civil union law found their way to the State House too. So did the media – from New Hampshire and beyond.

Rep. Jim Splaine, a Portsmouth Democrat who co-sponsored the law, said he hopes the media coverage will reassure the gays and lesbians who don’t yet have the courage to go public.

“When they see the pictures of good same-gendered couples coming together to share their life and love, they are going to realize it’s okay to be gay and they are going to realize that the state says it’s okay to be gay.”