Marriage equality a possibility in Wyo

Wyoming is one step closer to marriage equality as House Bills 168 and 169 circulate through the state legislature.

House Bill 168 would allow domestic partnership contracts for all couples regardless of sex and House Bill 169 redefines marriage as “a civil contract between two natural persons,” instead of just a contract between a male and a female.

“To me, it means Wyoming is a state that I can stay in to raise my family,” UW student Jeremy Adkins said. “I was born and raised in Laramie and I’d like to stay in Wyoming and have that legal representation. If these bills don’t pass, I may not stay here after graduation.”

Some of Wyoming’s citizens have waited a while for bills like these for their families.

“I am currently with the woman I love very much and marriage would be the best way to legally combine our households,” registered nurse and mother of four, Shelly Montgomery said.

Montgomery says that marriage inequality is really just another form of control.

“That’s just not the country we live in and it’s certainly not the state we live in. Wyoming citizens are the last people in the world who want to be controlled,” she said.

Montgomery says these bills are not just about marriage equality, but are important for equality in general. As a healthcare professional, she says she has witnessed people being mistreated because of their sexuality.

“I have seen people be treated like less than life because of their sexuality,” she said. “There have been healthcare issues in this state due to sexual orientation, which is one reason I think it’s important for people to be able to legitimize their unions.”

In spite of what Montgomery has witnessed, she is optimistic about the future of marriage equality.

“I feel good about it this time around and legislators have been very supportive. It’s a step in the right direction,” she said.

While the bill has received support from both Republican and Democrat legislatures, Gov. Matt Mead is opposed to the bills but says it is an issue for the citizens to decide upon.

“I do think it’s a possibility in Wyoming,” Mead said. “I do have my own set of my beliefs and I personally am against it, but we all have family and friends who are gay and that’s a reality. I think it’s a constitutional issue that we should put in front of the people.”

To rally support for the bills, UW students and members of the Laramie and Cheyenne communities will host the “Dress for Equality Success” rally. The rally will be held at 11 a.m. on Jan. 28 at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne.

“It’s going to be very simple and to the point and nothing too flashy,” Adkins said. “We just want them to know that we care about this bill and we’re not just some activists from another state. We want to show that we’re Wyomingites and this is something that we need if we’re going to stay in this state.”

Montgomery is urging support from everyone who cares about these bills, regardless of sexual orientation.

“I would encourage people who are not gay just as much as people who are gay to write to their legislators about this issue,” she said. “That way it becomes less of a special interest group and more of a human rights issue.”