GILLETTE, Wyo. — An ordinance to establish penalties for criminal acts perpetrated because of bias, hate or discrimination will go before the Gillette City Council on Tuesday.
If approved, the ordinance will prohibit people from injuring, threatening to injure or inciting violence against another person or their property based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry or disability, according to the City of Gillette.
“Establishing penalties through this ordinance is an important step for Gillette,” the city says. “Such an ordinance sends a clear message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated and provides law enforcement the tools they need to hold perpetrators accountable.”
According to the city, the ordinance falls in line with the Gillette City Council’s priorities to strengthen the local economy through industry diversification and job creation by both existing and new businesses.
New businesses that come to the area to take advantage of Gillette’s low tax and regulatory environment will likely need to look outside the community for new employees given the low local unemployment rate, the city says.
“This ordinance aims to proactively address creating a safer environment for our residents, visitors, and potential future residents to increase community confidence in the fact that Gillette is truly welcoming and supportive of all people,” according to the city.
The State of Wyoming is one of only two states in the nation that does not have a hate crime law on the books, the city says, adding that several of Wyoming’s largest municipalities have passed local ordinances dealing with anti-hate legislation, including Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie and Jackson.