Anti-Gay Marriage Bill Advances in Wyoming

The Wyoming House on Thursday advanced legislation that would cease the state’s recognition of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming House on Thursday advanced a bill that would end the state’s recognition of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

The measure passed on its first hearing with 34 votes and now must clear two additional House votes before it would head to the state Senate for debate.

The Wyoming House rejected similar legislation in 2009 and 2007, but with 12 opponents of the 2009 anti-gay marriage bill retiring or losing last election, the House’s most recent vote on this anti-gay bill could indicate that the new Wyoming Legislature may prove less sympathetic to LGBT issues.

According to the Billings Gazette, “Legislators are also considering a Senate bill that proposes a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. While that bill may pass the Senate, Thursday’s vote on HB74 shows it might be hard to get the two-thirds support needed in the House to pass the proposed amendment.

The Gazette also reports that, “Lawmakers this session will also consider bills legalizing gay marriage and civil unions. While there doesn’t seem to be much support for allowing gay marriage in the Legislature this year, it remains to be seen how the civil union bill will be received.”


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