Wyoming House Defeats Same-Sex Marriage Bill
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming House on Thursday defeated bills on both sides of the same-sex marriage issue.
The House first defeated a bill that would have changed state law to allow same-sex marriages.
Democratic Rep. Cathy Connolly of Laramie sponsored the bill. It would have removed the state's current legal specification that marriage is a civil contract between a man and a woman.
The House voted 41-to-17 against Connolly's bill on Thursday.
The House later Thursday voted down a bill sponsored by Casper Republican Rep. Gerald Gay that would have specified that Wyoming wouldn't recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.
Cheyenne Rep. Dan Zwonitzer spoke against the bill, saying the "Equality State" shouldn't take a step backward.
The House voted against introducing Gay's bill by a vote of 31-to-29.