Wyoming

In 2007, the Wyoming state legislature defeated a bill that would bar Wyoming from recognizing out of state marriages between same-sex couples. A statute already excludes same-sex couples from marriage in Wyoming. Multiple Republican state legislators came out in support of equality, as a result of the discriminatory bill being discussed. State advocacy groups and citizens across the state of Wyoming continue to work for marriage equality.

WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:

Wyoming Equality
Wyoming Equality is an organization that seeks to enhance the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the Equality State through: education of the general public, advocating the protection and promotion of the civil rights, and establishment of a statewide network.

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LEGISLATIVE STATUS IN WYOMING:

Your Community—Wyoming
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
HRC presents resources, news, and the current marriage and relationship recognition laws in each state.

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PUBLICATIONS:

Wyoming Census Snapshot
Williams Institute
April 2008
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this report provides demographic and economic information about same-sex couples and same-sex couples raising children in Wyoming.

Geographic Trends Among Same-Sex Couples in the U.S. Census and the American Community Survey
Williams Institute
November 2007
Gary Gates at the Williams Institute released groundbreaking research on the geographic trends among same-sex couples. The report finds the biggest increases in Southern and Mountain states and states barring legal acceptance of same-sex couples had larger percentage increases in same-sex couples from 2000 to 2006.

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NEWS:

BLOG: Non-gay GOP ally Legislator runs for US House
Petrelis Files
November 20, 2007
WY State Republican representative Dan Zwonitzer is mounting a campaign for the U.S. House. Zwonitzer caught the attention of marriage advocates when he gave a stirring speech in favor of marriage equality in February. After his speech, he received expressions of support from around the country.

BLOG: Another good WY GOP pol on his pro-gay vote
Petrelis Files
March 6, 2007
There's now a second straight GOP politician from there, Pat Childers, father of a lesbian daughter, writing me notes explaining why he stood up for gay equality, in a state where we don't think gays would have much support, and I am privileged to share his words with you.

WY panel kills anti-gay bill
Casper Star Tribune
February 22, 2007
House Speaker Roy Cohee, R-Casper, cast the tie-breaking vote in committee Thursday to kill a bill that would have barred Wyoming from recognizing gay and lesbian marriages from other states.

WY Senate passes ban on out-of-state gay people's marriages
365Gay.com
January 31, 2007
The state's Senate passed legislation Wednesday that would ban Wyoming, which calls itself "The Equality State," from recognizing gay and lesbian couples' marriages performed in other states or countries where they are legal.

WY bill would void marriages
Casper Star Tribune
January 25, 2007
Gay couples who marry in Massachusetts and move to Wyoming would suddenly find themselves single if some Wyoming legislators have their way: A bill has been introduced that would allow Wyoming to void same-sex marriages granted by other states. "I don't know where the fear of a mass influx of married gay people entering Wyoming and demanding recognition comes from," said the Rev. Bob Spencer, social change coordinator for Wyoming Equality. "I cannot envision hordes of (married gay) couples from Massachusetts, England, Canada, Amsterdam or any place like that thronging to Wyoming at any point in near future."

Why we need to talk about marriage equality
Washington Blade
May 1, 2006
"Question your friend or your father about what they are saying — make them actually think about their words. Don't let go unchallenged a flippant brush-off comment about 'there's no need for gay marriage.' Put up your dukes and fight back."

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