Sunday, March 09, 2014

It may take Courage v. Wyoming to get our state to live up to its "Equality State" brand

Here at hummingbirdminds, we spell "clout" with a lower-case "c." But we want to throw our support to the lawsuit filed this week to force Wyoming to acknowledge gay marriage. The lawsuit couldn't have a better title -- Courage v. Wyoming. That's Courage as in Cora Courage, one of the plaintiffs from Evanston. She happens to be a major in the Army Reserve, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, clinical director at the Wyoming State Hospital and a lesbian. Since 2009, she's been married to Wyoma "Nonie" Proffit, a part-time librarian and sheepherder. The other couples in the lawsuit deserve to be named because they represent courage too: Carl Oleson and Rob Johnston, Casper; Anne Guzzo and Bonnie Robinson, Laramie; and Ivan Williams and Chuck Killion, Cheyenne.
Carl Oleson and Rob Johnston of Casper, Anne Guzzo and Bonnie Robinson of Laramie, and Ivan Williams and Chuck Killion of Cheyenne. - See more at: http://wyofile.com/wyofile-2/sex-couples-wyoming-equality-file-marriage-lawsuit/#sthash.r6BLdx6u.EEGaMMQz.dpuf
Carl Oleson and Rob Johnston of Casper, Anne Guzzo and Bonnie Robinson of Laramie, and Ivan Williams and Chuck Killion of Cheyenne. - See more at: http://wyofile.com/wyofile-2/sex-couples-wyoming-equality-file-marriage-lawsuit/#sthash.r6BLdx6u.EEGaMMQz.dpuf
Cora Courage and Wyoma “Nonie” Proffit of Evanston, Carl Oleson and Rob Johnston of Casper, Anne Guzzo and Bonnie Robinson of Laramie, and Ivan Williams and Chuck Killion of Cheyenne. - See more at: http://wyofile.com/wyofile-2/sex-couples-wyoming-equality-file-marriage-lawsuit/#sthash.r6BLdx6u.pv4Q1niY.dpuf

Wyoming Equality is also part of the lawsuit.

It's no surprise that this case arises at the tail end of the most recent legislative session. Marriage equality bills haven't fared well in the Legislature. Last year, the first marriage equality bill (this one on domestic partnerships) to ever make it out of committee was defeated in the House while gathering a surprising number of Republican votes. The debate, broadcast on radio, was very instructive. I wrote about it here.

This year, a bill sponsored by Rep. Cathy Connolly (D-Laramie) to include same-sex couples in the state’s definition of marriage failed to get enough votes to be introduced.

Clearly, it's time to turn to the courts. The courts have been ruling against discrimination of late, so it seems to be the right time for a lawsuit.

Said Jeran Artery, executive director of Wyoming Equality:
“Wyoming has a proud history of being the 'Equality State' and its refusal to allow same-sex couples to marry is contrary to the core values of our state. The couples in this case, and all same-sex couples in Wyoming, deserve to be treated with equal fairness and respect, including having the same freedom to marry that others enjoy.”
Well said, Jeran Artery, who grew up in rural Wyoming and knows the territory. 

See more on wyofile and Wy Pols and WY ACLU

Cora Courage and Nonie Proffit
Cora Courage and Nonie Proffit, of Evanston, have been together for over nine years and were married in Iowa in 2009. Cora is the Clinical Director at the state psychiatric hospital and a Major in the Army Reserve. Nonie is a part-time librarian and sheepherder for their family’s ranch.
Carl Oleson & Rob Johnston
Carl Oleson and Rob Johnston, of Casper, have been together for sixteen years and were married in Canada in July 2010. Carl manages a retail store and Rob is the program director for Project ReGain, which teaches skills to people who are recovering from addiction.
Anne Guzzo & Bonnie Robinson
Anne Guzzo and Bonnie Robinson have been together for four years and reside in Laramie. Anne is a professor of music composition and theory at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Bonnie is a property manager. On February 27, 2014, they applied for a marriage license at the Laramie County Clerk’s Office in Cheyenne and were rejected because they are a same-sex couple.
Ivan Williams & Chuck Killion
Ivan Williams and Chuck Killion have been together for nearly two years and reside in Cheyenne. Ivan is an attorney. Chuck is a comptroller at a local construction and development company. On February 27, 2014, they applied for a marriage license at the Laramie County Clerk’s Office in Cheyenne and were rejected because they are a same-sex couple. The County Clerk later asked the First Judicial District Court in Cheyenne to determine whether she was obligated to reject the couples’ applications for marriage
- See more at: http://wyofile.com/wyofile-2/sex-couples-wyoming-equality-file-marriage-lawsuit/#sthash.r6BLdx6u.onzF4i89.dpuf

Cora Courage and Nonie Proffit
Cora Courage and Nonie Proffit, of Evanston, have been together for over nine years and were married in Iowa in 2009. Cora is the Clinical Director at the state psychiatric hospital and a Major in the Army Reserve. Nonie is a part-time librarian and sheepherder for their family’s ranch.
Carl Oleson & Rob Johnston
Carl Oleson and Rob Johnston, of Casper, have been together for sixteen years and were married in Canada in July 2010. Carl manages a retail store and Rob is the program director for Project ReGain, which teaches skills to people who are recovering from addiction.
Anne Guzzo & Bonnie Robinson
Anne Guzzo and Bonnie Robinson have been together for four years and reside in Laramie. Anne is a professor of music composition and theory at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Bonnie is a property manager. On February 27, 2014, they applied for a marriage license at the Laramie County Clerk’s Office in Cheyenne and were rejected because they are a same-sex couple.
Ivan Williams & Chuck Killion
Ivan Williams and Chuck Killion have been together for nearly two years and reside in Cheyenne. Ivan is an attorney. Chuck is a comptroller at a local construction and development company. On February 27, 2014, they applied for a marriage license at the Laramie County Clerk’s Office in Cheyenne and were rejected because they are a same-sex couple. The County Clerk later asked the First Judicial District Court in Cheyenne to determine whether she was obligated to reject the couples’ applications for marriage
- See more at: http://wyofile.com/wyofile-2/sex-couples-wyoming-equality-file-marriage-lawsuit/#sthash.r6BLdx6u.onzF4i89.dpuf

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