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Gay Marriage in Native America
The debate over gay marriage continues to divide the nation and in the last year, many states have passed laws prohibiting the recognition of same sex marriages. However, at the same time, some states have moved forward in granting legal rights to gay and lesbians couples. Connecticut recently joined Vermont in legalizing "civil unions," which are designed to afford the same legal protections, rights, and responsibilities as marriage. And Oregon could soon become the third state to legalize civil unions.
The gay marriage debate has been playing out in Indian country as well, touching on issues of tribal sovereignty, cultural tradition, and legal rights.
The Navajo Indian Tribe is the largest tribe in the United States. It extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, covering over 27,000 square miles. In April, the Navajo tribal council passed the Dine Marriage Act of 2005, which banned same-sex marriages. Earlier this month, however, the president of the Navajo nation, Joe Shirley, vetoed the legislation calling it discriminatory. The tribal council is planning to try to overturn the Shirley's ban.
Meanwhile, in Cherokee nation, which is the second largest tribe in the U.S and encompasses 14 counties in Northeast Oklahoma, the tribal council also banned same sex marriages. But the ban was passed after a lesbian couple had already obtained a tribal marriage application.
* David Cornsilk, member of the Cherokee nation. He lives in Tulsa Oklahoma.
* Joe Shirley, President of the Navajo Nation.
* Dawn McKinley, she and her girlfriend, both members of the Cherokee nation, married last year. They are now fighting for legal recognition in the Cherokee tribal courts.
LISTEN ONLINE
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/31/1349225
The Navajo Indian Tribe is the largest tribe in the United States. It extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, covering over 27,000 square miles. In April, the Navajo tribal council passed the Dine Marriage Act of 2005, which banned same-sex marriages. Earlier this month, however, the president of the Navajo nation, Joe Shirley, vetoed the legislation calling it discriminatory. The tribal council is planning to try to overturn the Shirley's ban.
Meanwhile, in Cherokee nation, which is the second largest tribe in the U.S and encompasses 14 counties in Northeast Oklahoma, the tribal council also banned same sex marriages. But the ban was passed after a lesbian couple had already obtained a tribal marriage application.
* David Cornsilk, member of the Cherokee nation. He lives in Tulsa Oklahoma.
* Joe Shirley, President of the Navajo Nation.
* Dawn McKinley, she and her girlfriend, both members of the Cherokee nation, married last year. They are now fighting for legal recognition in the Cherokee tribal courts.
LISTEN ONLINE
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/31/1349225
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