The overall goal of the Wyoming Unites campaign is to change state law to allow gay marriage, Artery said.

In March, four same-sex couples and Wyoming Equality sued Gov. Matt Mead and other state officials in First District Court in Cheyenne to challenge the state’s ban on gay marriage.

“I hope we’re raising public awareness that we’re here in this state,” Artery said. “And there’s a lot of people willing to stand alongside us and say now is the time to get married. Let’s truly be a ‘live and let live’ state.”

When the statement about the lawyers was sent to the media at 8 a.m., 54 Wyoming attorneys had put their names on the list. Artery said he received more requests throughout the day from attorneys who wanted their names added to the list.

Artery said he found lawyers by approaching those he and his acquaintances knew. Then word spread.

Casper attorney Tracy Hucke signed the statement because she believes gay couples are entitled to the same legal rights as all Wyoming citizens, she said in the statement.

“As a Wyoming lawyer, the freedom to marry is important to me because the purpose of government is to safeguard individual rights and prevent some persons from harming others,” she said. “Straight couples should not be treated preferentially when the state carries out that role. No one is harmed by the union of two consenting gay people.”

Reach state reporter Laura Hancock at 307-266-0581 or at laura.hancock@trib.com. Follow her on Twitter: @laurahancock.

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