Lawmakers in Wyoming approved a measure to institute domestic partnerships Monday afternoon, even as they killed a bill to legalize marriage equality.
Both bills had been submitted to the state House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee by openly gay Rep. Cathy Connolly (D-Laramie), though she and other proponents had hoped the gay-marriage measure would advance.
It failed in a 5-4 vote, while the domestic partnership bill passed 7-2 and will now move on to a general vote.
Opponents of equality trotted out insulting rhetoric to deny gays and lesbians the same rights as heterosexuals. “Homosexual behavior is harmful to the mind, body and spirit,” said state Rep. Lynn Hutchings (R-Cheyenne), who also accused LGBT advocates of “carpet-bagging on [the black] civil rights movement.”
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Hutchings even volunteered that an ex-fiance had once been gay but decided to turn straight.
We really pity the people of Cheyenne.
hyhybt
That marriage even got to a committee vote in Wyoming, and that domestic partnerships passed that step, is more than there was any reason to expect from Wyoming this year.
It’s sad marriage didn’t pass, but perspective is important.
Daniel-Reader
If history has taught us anything, it is that santimonious politicians are pure evil when they violate the human rights of other people.
erasure25
They should be forced to watch the Laramie Project (with Joshua Jackson ????).
CAxlRose
@hyhybt: Agreed. I wasn’t the least bit discouraged by this news, and I usually get pretty pissed when marriage equality fails thanks to politicians and their bullshit (see: New Jersey).
But I found this particular piece of news highly encouraging. I never in a million years expected ANY kind of forward movement on any time of gay rights issue in Wyoming.
Any step forward is a good step as far as I’m concerned.
Dionte
You almost made it on the good state list.
gppm1103
@erasure25: Why?…Wyoming politicians pretty much concluded Matthew got what he deserved.
Another redneck state that has nothing to say and too many voting rights.
EGO
At least Wyoming is moving forward. Now if my home state of Idaho would move up to
modern times it would really be a shocker. It is odd that the Mormans are opposed
when 9 out of 10 gays caught in the Fall of ’55 scandal in Boise, Idaho, were Mormans.
What a bunch of hypocrites!
hyhybt
@gppm1103: A lot has changed since then… and what do you mean by “too many voting rights?”