A Wyoming lawmaker has compared gay
unions to smoking bans.
State Representative Frank Peasley, a
Republican, was arguing in favor of a House bill that would outlaw
the recognition of out-of-state gay marriages.
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.
Peasley rejected arguments that gay
marriage was a civil rights issue, saying it was wrong for the
government to intrude into longstanding traditions, the Wyoming
Tribune-Eagle reported.
“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?”
On Thursday, the House gave an initial
nod to the legislation. The bill must now pass two additional votes
before heading to the Senate. Lawmakers are also expected to debate
a bill that would place a gay marriage ban in the Wyoming
Constitution.