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.

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