TORRINGTON – The Goshen County Right to Life hosted a town hall meeting on Tuesday, featuring a discussion led by Wyoming Family Alliance President Nathan Winters and Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray. Local state politicians Cheri Steinmetz and Scott Smith were also in attendance with almost 20 members of the Goshen County community.

The event opened with a legislative session review from Winters, focusing on the Wyoming Family Alliance’s priorities: pro-life advocacy, traditional family values and school choice policies. The discussion blended political analysis, philosophical reflection and a moral call to action. Throughout, Winters linked legislation – ranging from abortion regulations and homeschool freedoms to protections for women’s spaces – to broader questions of identity, freedom and truth. He urged local voters to stay engaged on “cultural issues,” which he argued are foundational to all other legislative matters.

Winters remarked he often hears legislators say, “I don’t like to handle the cultural issues – those just kind of drag everything down. I just want to get down to the work of the people.” But he rejected divide. “Two hundred years from now,” Winters said, “water rights are going to matter – and they matter very much. People need to make clear-headed decisions on those issues. But the kind of person who will make the clearest decisions is one who understands the value of personal rights.” He traced the roots of many current bills and court battles to broader ideological shifts, criticizing what he called “toxic empathy” – a cultural trend he claims enables harmful delusions under the guise of compassion.

Despite the challenges, Winters described this legislative session as “the most successful year ever” for conservative cultural legislation. The legislature passed the Homeschool Freedom Act, eliminating the requirement for homeschool families to file intent with their local school districts. Other measures included the Privacy in Public Spaces Act, which prohibits transgender individuals from using restrooms or locker rooms aligned with their gender identity; the Fairness in Sports Act, barring transgender students from collegiate athletics; and the Compelled Speech Ban, which prohibits employers from requiring employees to declare preferred pronouns. Winters argued each bill serves not only a political purpose but also a moral one – defending foundational truths he believes are under assault. 

“These are lives. And this is why cultural issues matter,” he said.

Winters also credited Senator Cheri Steinmetz for leading efforts to defund the University of Wyoming’s Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). He argued DEI-related ideas remain “baked into” other university programs and should continue to be challenged. Citing internal research and student feedback, he accused the university of promoting ideology under the guise of education.

Throughout his remarks, Winters emphasized issues such as abortion, gender identity, parental rights, and education policy are not fringe topics but central to preserving a free society. “When someone says, ‘Abortion is wrong, but…’ –everything before the ‘but’ is erased,” he warned.

Next, Secretary of State Chuck Gray took the podium, delivering a wide-ranging speech outlining his vision for Wyoming’s political future, focusing on election integrity and fiscal responsibility.

Gray opened by honoring the late Commissioner John Ellis and Diane Foster, whom he described as examples of humble, devoted public servants. 

Reflecting on his decade in Wyoming politics, Gray highlighted the rise of the Freedom Caucus in the legislature. He expressed disappointment over lost momentum in the Senate, which he blamed on last-minute deals which “handed power back to political insiders.” Nevertheless, he celebrated major wins, including property tax relief and the state’s first Education Savings Account (ESA) program. “We finally got the cap in 2024,” Gray said, referring to the long-fought property tax battle. “It is real, broad-based property tax relief – the first of its kind in a generation.”

Gray criticized state spending priorities, particularly lodging tax revenues used for international tourism ads, arguing the funds should instead support education, water infrastructure, and public safety. He described a troubling visit to the state penitentiary, where aging infrastructure and staffing shortages pose serious security concerns. He cited drones dropping fentanyl, malfunctioning security doors, and broken cameras as signs of a brewing crisis. 

“Do we want to pay for security upgrades? Where do prison security upgrades rank compared to tourism promotion in France, Spain, and Denmark?” he asked.

He also laid out his election integrity agenda, including laws requiring proof of citizenship and residency for voter registration. Gray criticized Governor Mark Gordon for refusing to sign the bill and using “liberal talking points” in his explanation. 

“As the left often points out, yes, non-citizens legally can’t vote. But without documentary proof of citizenship at registration, how are you enforcing that?” he asked.

Gray ended with a brief but pointed comment on wind and solar development in Goshen County, a topic he has grown increasingly involved in. He encouraged attendees to investigate the companies entering Wyoming for its wind and solar potential, as well as the long-term impact on land and water resources.

During the question-and-answer session, many attendees echoed Gray’s concerns about renewable energy projects. One attendee expressed concern about the confrontational tone of the Freedom Caucus, especially the use of what she called a “deceptive” website, www.wyorino.com, which currently features local Representative JD Williams as “RINO of the Month” and labels him “a master of deception.” Gray defended the website, calling the name clever marketing. He argued with Wyoming essentially a one-party Republican state, such distinctions are necessary.

The attendee said she did not appreciate the casual use of the “RINO” label and praised Williams for regularly providing legislative updates – something she said other local politicians failed to do. In response, Steinmetz said, “I’m just going to defend myself. I run a business, I have a family, and I work all week long down there. I’m not coming home on Saturdays to sit in the library. I won’t do it.”

Several attendees also voiced support for Gray’s ongoing advocacy of hand-counted ballots, which some believe would enhance election accuracy and integrity. However, many county and state officials argue the measure would be administratively burdensome without improving accuracy over current systems.