Petrelis Files

AP: S.F. Gays, HRC, Log Cabin Praise Straight WY GOP Politician
(Photo credit: Dan Zwonizter. A recent bill signing with WY's Governor at the podium. Second from the left is Dan, wearing a red tie.)

My pitch to AP Wyoming reporter Kathleen Miller was basic. The man whose pro-gay equality speech was read around the blogosphere, deserved an AP wire story about the impact of his words on me, gays and our newspapers in SF and the letters he received from people across the globe. Guess I've tired to give Dan the p.r. attention HRC can't be bothered with on his behalf.

As you can see, Miller has written her piece and I believe it does justice to Zwonitzer and his courageous act. Kathleen, I salute and thank you.

A lengthy excerpt:

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Dan Zwonitzer is both Republican and straight, but the 27-year-old state representative suddenly has found himself praised by gay rights activists nationwide.

Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, spoke out in a legislative committee against a measure that would have allowed Wyoming to deny recognition of gay marriages granted by other states or countries.

The committee killed the bill.

"I mistakenly thought many people in Dick Cheney's home state didn't support equality for me as a gay man," said Michael Petrelis, a gay blogger, Green Party member and AIDS activist from San Francisco.

"That was the thing that surprised many of us in the San Francisco gay community, that this pro-gay development happened in Dick Cheney's home state."

Articles in two San Francisco gay publications, the San Francisco Bay Times and the Bay Area Reporter, also have lauded Zwonitzer.

Zwonitzer told the House Rules Committee on Feb. 22 that he needed to publicly oppose the measure _ even if it cost him his seat _ because he believed that was the right thing to do. He told the committee that gay rights were the civil rights struggle of his generation.

"I will tell my children that when this debate went on, I stood up for basic rights for people," he said.

Committee member Rep. Tom Lubnau, R-Gillette, sided with Zwonitzer, acknowledging the young legislator's speech before voting against the measure.

"Maybe the right thing to do is stand up for tolerance," Lubnau said.

The committee voted 7-6 to kill the bill, with House Speaker Roy Cohee, R-Casper, casting the tie-breaking vote.

But Zwonitzer, who couldn't vote against the bill because he's not on the committee, is the one who has been receiving the bulk of the attention.

"The reaction was rather surprising," he said. "I'm up to 165 e-mails from people around the country and several internationals, all thanking me for making my stand."

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Read the full article, with references to HRC, Log Cabin and DNC treasurer Andrew Tobias. Click here.