Job protection for gays clears Senate hurdle

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Senate on Monday approved second reading of a bill that would extend workplace and other anti-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Senate File 115 was approved after consideration of several new amendments to the bill.

The first, sponsored by Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, would have added creed, disability, political affiliation, economic status, ethnic background and ancestry to the protected classes afforded under SF 115. It also would have struck the "gender" in gender identity and replaced it with "sex," with Hicks arguing the two terms are interchangeable and the change would make the language consistent with the rest of Wyoming statutes.

But the bill's key sponsor, Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, noted that the purpose of the bill is to exclusively address discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

While he appreciated what Hicks was attempting to do, he suggested the amendment overreached, given the bill's intent. "In my reading, it's outside the scope," he said.

"It's a little too broad for what the bill title indicates," Rothfuss said.

Sen. Michael Von Flatern, R-Gillette, agreed, adding that Hicks' amendment covered a lot of ground that already exists elsewhere in Wyoming statute.

Senate President Phil Nicholas, R-Laramie, ruled that the amendment was not germane to the bill, and it was subsequently withdrawn.

The second amendment to the bill, offered by Senate Vice President Drew Perkins, R-Casper, sought to rework his previous amendment, which was approved on the bill's first reading.

The amendment sought to expand the list of organizations that would be exempt from SF 115, going beyond religious organizations to include nonprofit "expressive associations" whose primary purpose or function "are grounded in religious teachings."

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Job protection for gays clears Senate hurdle