Wyoming House Bill 83, called the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” passed the House and is ready to be introduced to the state Senate, but an upcoming Senate file may make the bill useless.
The bill, sponsored by Representative Nathan Winters (R-HD28), aims to
“limit specified governmental actions that burden religious freedom.” The bill passed the House with 36 votes for and 23 against.
“The basis of freedom is that every person can live within the law, while having the liberty to think freely,” Winters said. “The opposite of freedom is the coercion of conscience. Every American is guaranteed these basic freedoms under the Constitution and federal law.”
Before the bill passed, lawmakers added an amendment to it that would exempt government workers from the bill’s scope. This addressed concerns many had with the possibility of county clerks refusing to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Opponents to HB 83 claim that the bill would allow business owners to discriminate against gay and lesbian customers. Representative Charles Pelkey (D-HD45) opposes the bill, on the grounds that it would allow discrimination.
“It seems like it is just an attempt to codify the ability to discriminate,” Pelkey said. “We aren’t about that in this state, and we are not about that in this country.”
Steve Grabowski, the owner of The Spectacle Emporium in downtown Laramie, does not think the bill will affect his business.
“It doesn’t affect my business at all. If someone wants glasses, I make them,” Grabowski said.
Grabowski also said that he supports religious freedom as a whole.
“I don’t think the government should be monkeying with people’s beliefs,” he said. “I think everyone should have their religious freedom.”
On the other side of the state legislature, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate File 115 to the Senate floor. This bill would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Sean Christina Slagle, a graduate assistant at the Rainbow Resource Center, is passionate about LGBTQ rights in Wyoming and believes this is a step in the right direction.
“LGBTQ individuals live with the constant possibility of being fired or not being hired for being who they are,” Stagle said. “They also live with the possibility of being rejected from any business they shop in or from being evicted from their rental properties.”
Pelkey also said that if both Senate File 115, and House Bill 83 were passed, the house bill would be useless.
“House Bill 83 would be meaningless,” he said. “Senate File 115 is an appropriate step to take. We are the Equality State after all.”
