Why Cheyenne Doesn’t Need Anti-Gay Laws Like In Laramie Wyoming [OPINION]

The governing body of the Laramie City Council, in Laramie Wyoming, voted 7-2 in favor of an ordinance that would prohibit discrimination of the LBGT community.  Homosexuality, historically, has been known as the "mental illness that went away." That's because up until 1974, homosexuality was known as a mental illness, according to the American Psychiatric Association. But not today. And especially not in Laramie, Wyoming.

Recently, Ordinance 1915, which is a non-discriminatory measure, was passed by the Laramie City Council, in a vote of 7-2 which will "prohibit discrimination of any person based upon his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations."

A similar bill was voted down in Billings, Montana because there was language in the potential ordinance stating that if someone perceived themselves to be of the opposite sex, other than what they were born with, they would be able to use public restrooms of their perceived gender, rather than their biological one. That was the deal breaker with the city council in Billings.

There are some things to consider about the passing of this ordinance in the city of Laramie. Will it really help the LBGT Community? Or is this just a way for politicians to show that they support the LBGT Community, with no real way to prove whether or not they have been discriminated against?

Many on the other side of this issue would argue a few points in opposition to what happened in Laramie, Wyoming. They are:

• How can you prove that an LBGT individual has indeed been discriminated against? If an employer has 25 applicants and chooses someone other than the LBGT applicant, can that be proven in a court of law? I think it would be extremely difficult to prove.
• How many cases have there been where the courts were able to prove discrimination?
• Does this mean that if a man "perceives" himself to be a woman, can he/she go into the women's restroom to use it? What if someone is just a pervert and decides he wants to "cross dress" just to get a glimpse of the opposite sex?
• What if the Supreme Court rules that the states will make that decision and how will this affect the decision in Laramie, Wyoming?

There are so many variables to this topic which is pretty hot today. Many lawyers throughout the country have no problem representing tobacco companies that have been accused of lying about addicting products, people accused of murder and companies that have been accused of their waste products killing people.

But when it comes to representing and defending those who are for traditional marriage, with the exception of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and others like them, all you can hear is a room full of crickets nowadays.

So when it's all said and done, can you really prove that an active LBGT person has been discriminated against? Unless a company is just stupid and blatantly and verbally makes it known that someone is being fired or will not be hired because of their sexual orientation, I trow not.

So again, was the passing of the Laramie Ordinance 1915 symbolic or literal? I guess it doesn't really matter as it is now a city ordinance, and time will tell if it will do any good or not.