Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

As I ponder whether to write a letter about legal protection for the minority among us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, I am forced to consider what could be the purpose of writing. If my purpose were to change anyone’s mind, it would be better for me to remain silent, for I think that we all reach our opinions, not primarily by what we read, but by a combination of many factors.

I believe that we need laws designed to give equal rights to people of the LGBTQ community, because as a conservative Christian young adult I became acquainted with a number of lesbian and gay people. This caused me to wrestle with my conscience for years. I have made an effort since then to improve my understanding of LGBT persons and the problems they face in a homophobic society.

Primarily I believe we need to establish in law that LGBTQ persons have equal rights because I know they are subject to discrimination and because the founder of one of the world’s major religions taught us that the only way to live is to love our neighbor. Jesus also taught that God sees things we do for “the least of these” as things we do for Him. (Matthew 25:40)

Yes, our constitution grants equal rights to everyone, but in practice, our society has denied rights to women, to people of color, to the disabled and to homosexuals. Enacting laws that demand equal protection for these discriminated groups does not give them special rights, but serves to bring ordinary practice into compliance with lofty principle.

House Bill 0230 would not have granted any special rights; it would have been a step toward ensuring equality of treatment in hiring.

I’m sorry it did not pass.

Ernie Reinhold

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Dear Editor

The Senate’s passing of SF0125, a bill concerning digital assets and cryptocurrencies goes a long way towards cementing Wyoming’s place among the most hospitable states in the country for financial technology firms. Senator Ogden Driskill’s aim, to make the state the “Silicon Valley of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency of the nation and arguably – the world,” has not gone without notice, and Senator Driskill’s efforts are laudable.

Cryptocurrencies, along with the trending digital securities (AKA security tokens), aren’t just a fad of the month. While the market for Bitcoin and other digital currencies has fallen over the past year, the technology is improving by the day, and the industry, built on underlying blockchain-based technology, is poised for great long-term success. Many giants within the financial services industry already see these emerging technologies as gamechangers – as, literally, disruptive innovations, meaning that they will change the way we conduct business across the globe.

Beyond creating a conversation, this bill will begin to create a functioning rulebook. That’s a net benefit to the industry as a whole, and, if the industry thrives, it will bring good paying jobs and new tax revenue. If we succeed, so, too, will Wyoming. Senator Driskill understands that. And we’re grateful for his attempt to create an environment where honest brokers can prosper.

Charles Catania III, MBA

Chief Communications Officer

Modulus