def find_equivalent(elem, find_list):
    """Returns the element from the list that is equal to the one passed in.

    For remove operations and what not, the exact object may need to be
    provided.  This method will find the functionally equivalent element
    from the list.

    :param elem: The original element.
    :param find_list: The list to search through.
    :returns: An element from the that is functionally equivalent (based on
              __eq__).  If it does not exist, None is returned.
    """
    for find_elem in find_list:
        if find_elem == elem:
            return find_elem
    return None