Coming soon to Wyoming?
A statewide campaign for marriage equality kicked off in Wyoming Monday. Yes, Wyoming—don't you wish Liz Cheney was still in the state's Senate race so that we could all make popcorn and get another look at how this fight is playing out in the Cheney family? Four couples and the National Center for Lesbian Rights have filed a
lawsuit challenging the state's marriage ban—and we all know how such lawsuits have been working out since the Supreme Court struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act. In fact, Wyoming won't be the first or even the second case heard in the federal circuit court that covers the state:
In addition to the recently filed state-based lawsuit, oral arguments are set for April 10 in a federal case challenging Utah’s marriage ban. The case is on appeal after a federal judge struck down the ban and recently, several prominent Republicans – including former Wyoming U.S. Senator Alan Simpson – urged the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the lower court's ruling.
A second appeal will be heard April 17 in the 10th Circuit on a similar case from Oklahoma where a federal judge ruled the state’s marriage ban violated the U.S. Constitution. The 10th Circuit covers six states, including Wyoming.
While, as of last summer, a majority of Wyoming voters
opposed marriage equality, a majority supported civil unions; this is also an issue on which public opinion is shifting year to year. In any case, it's also an issue where the courts may just have to force some states to catch up with the times.