April 18, 2013
Montana Gov. to Sign Bill Decriminalizing Gay Sex
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock will sign into law a bill that decriminalizes gay sex, 16 years after the state supreme court ruled the law unconstitutional.
The bill's passage received an emotional response from gay-rights activists, who have struggled for 20 years to remove the obsolete law.
The bill received the Senate's endorsement earlier in the session with little fanfare, but was stuck in a GOP-controlled House committee until Democrat Bryce Bennett of Missoula led the effort to put the measure to a vote in the House.
The measure received bi-partisan support from representatives, passing its final hurdle with a 65-34 vote a few weeks ago.
Bullock planned to sign Senate Bill 107 shortly after noon Thursday in the Capitol Rotunda.