More like this, please
I had researched our statutes and provided seven pages, single spaced, of statute cites (statute number with a few words of description) noting where marriage was tied to civil rights of couples.
Those statutes, if gay couples married out of the state were to move to Wyoming, would deny them their civil rights under the proposed law. Our definition of marriage has been in place since the late 1800’s and does define it as a civil contract between a man and a woman.
It does not make it right with the understanding of human makeup as known today.
(--Wyoming state Rep. Pat Childers)
Under a democracy the civil rights struggle continues today, where we have one segment of our society trying to restrict rights and privelges from another segment of our society. My parents raised me to know that this is wrong.
It is wrong for one segment of society to restrict rights and freedoms from another segment of society. I believe many of you have had this conversation with your children.
(--Wyoming state Rep. Dan Zwonitzer)
These weren't just speeches. These two representatives voted against a proposed Hate Law in Wyoming and helped kill it dead before it even got out of committee.
I echo Representative Childers concerns, that testifying against this bill may cost me my seat. I have two of my precinct committee persons behind me today who are in favor of this bill, as I stand here opposed, and I understand that I may very well lose my election. It cost 4 moderate Republican Senators in Kansas their election last year for standing up on this same issue. But I tell myself that there are some issues that are greater than me, and I believe this is one of them. And if standing up for equal rights costs me my seat so be it. I will let history be my judge, and I can go back to my constituents and say I stood up for basic rights. I will tell my children that when this debate went on, I stood up for basic rights for people.
(--Dan Zwomiter)
Here's the interesting thing about it: Mr. Childers and Mr. Zwonitzer are Republicans, and they spoke out and voted against that Hate Law even though they knew that they might lose their seats in the state Legislature because they did the decent and moral thing by voting against the Hate Law.
I hold the bar very high when it comes to members of the Evil Party, but in this case I can only say thank you for doing the right and decent thing.
(from Pam's House Blend & Pandagon, via Bouphonia)