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Wyoming Senate Passes Ban On Out-Of-State Gay
Marriages
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: January 31, 2007 - 7:00 pm ET
(Cheyenne, Wyoming) The Wyoming State Senate
passed legislation Wednesday that would ban the state from recognizing same-sex
marriages performed in other states or countries where they are legal.
The bill passed 21-8 generally along party lines,
with most Democrats opposed and most Republicans in favor of the bill.
If the bill passes the House and signed into law
by the governor it would mean Wyoming gays could not travel to Canada or any of
the European countries where same-sex couples can marry and have their marriages
recognized when they return home.
It also would mean if a same-sex couple moved to
Wyoming because of work or even visited the state their marriages would be
considered void in Wyoming.
One of the few Republicans to vote against the
measure, Sen. Cale Case, said Wyoming already has a poor reputation for its
treatment of gays as a result of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard.
Wyoming already has a so-called Defense of
Marriage law that mandates marriages conducted in the state must be between a
man and woman. The new measure would strengthen that act.
But opponents say the new provisions will make it
harder for companies and universities to attract the most qualified people.
Supporters of the bill say they only want to
strengthen traditional marriage.
Wyoming calls itself 'The Equality State'.
©365Gay.com 2007
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