Lawmakers in the Wyoming House on
Monday approved a bill that seeks to outlaw the recognition of
out-of-state gay marriages, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
reported.
Wyoming bans gay and lesbian couples
from marrying but state law also recognizes any valid marriage
performed outside its borders. Social conservatives worry that a
legal challenge could use the loophole to legalize gay marriage.
House members approved the bill with a
32-27 vote. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where its
chances for passage appear good.
During a Thursday initial vote on the
measure, State Representative Frank Peasley, a Republican, argued
that the law was needed to reduce government intrusion.
“I think all this is, is an outpost
in culture that says, 'Listen, I feel like you're destroying
everything else that I have,'” Peasley told lawmakers on the House
floor. “You've got involved in the raising of my children, the way
I discipline them, the way I feed them, whether or not I can smoke in
the car, whether or not I have them properly equipped; you've just
gotten into my life so much, let's just let me define the
relationship I'm in, OK?”
Lawmakers are also expected to debate a
bill that would place a gay marriage ban in the Wyoming Constitution.