Wyoming lawmakers pull controversial religious rights bill

CHEYENNE – Sponsors of a controversial religious rights bill that the gay community called discriminatory said Thursday afternoon they are withdrawing the legislation because there is not enough time for the Wyoming Legislature to weigh in on the matter.

House Bill 135 would have allowed people to sue their employers if their policies about LGBTQ people conflicted with their religious or moral convictions. It would have deemed illegal Laramie’s nondiscrimination ordinance. Critics of the bill said government employees, such as police officers or firefighters, could have denied helping gay people if their lifestyles were offensive.

Wyoming Equality, the gay rights organization, said of all state legislatures currently considering religious freedom bills, Wyoming’s was the most discriminatory.

However, sponsors of the bill said the discussion about religious rights is one worth having and they want to revisit the issue after the Legislature adjourns in early March.

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/wyoming-lawmakers-pull-controversial-religious-rights-bill/article_5e37e65e-5032-549d-8b73-9c1657c6dc52.html