Marriage equality, or some form of legal protections for gay and lesbian couples, could become a reality in Wyoming sometime soon.
The Jackson Hole Daily reports on a pair of bills that have been introduced with bipartisan support, backed by Jackson Republican Rep. Keith Gingery and Laramie Democratic Rep. Cathy Connolly:
House Bill 169 would change the state’s
definition of marriage to say that marriage is a civil contract between
“two natural persons.” Current law says that marriage is a contract
between “a male and a female person.”
This piece of legislation would plug gay marriage into the state’s existing framework for marriage, Gingery said. It simply would open the rights afforded to heterosexual couples to gay couples as well.
“Legally speaking, I would prefer the gay marriage bill,” he said. “We already know how it works.”
House Bill 168, which Connolly filed Monday, would create a legal framework for domestic partnerships, allowing same-sex couples to “obtain the rights, responsibilities, protections and legal benefits provided in Wyoming for immediate family members.”
The law would consider a member of a domestic partnership to be a spouse under all state rules and laws.
This piece of legislation would plug gay marriage into the state’s existing framework for marriage, Gingery said. It simply would open the rights afforded to heterosexual couples to gay couples as well.
“Legally speaking, I would prefer the gay marriage bill,” he said. “We already know how it works.”
House Bill 168, which Connolly filed Monday, would create a legal framework for domestic partnerships, allowing same-sex couples to “obtain the rights, responsibilities, protections and legal benefits provided in Wyoming for immediate family members.”
The law would consider a member of a domestic partnership to be a spouse under all state rules and laws.
(via Towleroad)
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