Kitsap County's Suquamish Tribe makes same-sex marriage legal

[w8liftinglady]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015800174_samesex03m.html

Heather Purser has no immediate wedding plans, but thanks to her persistence, she and her partner can now legally marry on Suquamish tribal land.

The tribe this week made it legal for same-sex couples to marry.

"We are open and tolerant, and we want to make sure our members are offered the opportunity to be happy and free in their lives," said Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish Tribe. "This lined up with our values as a tribe. We don't discriminate."

Purser, 28, a commercial diver who lives in Seattle but was raised in Kitsap County off the reservation, said she had been trying for years to get the law changed.

She came out as a lesbian while at Western Washington University, then felt isolated by her tribal community.

"When I came out I felt even more isolated from the world, and decided if I could get my people to support me and allow gay marriage, maybe the hurt would go away," Purser said.

[xchrom]

1. Awesome. Nt

[Amimnoch]

2. Potential challenge to DOMA through the courts?

Tribal sovereignty laws, and even some granted powers in the Constitution itself makes me wonder if this could be used to challenge DOMA?

The US government, and US States are absolutely required to recognize Tribal law as it applies to Native Americans. Heather could provide a real landmark case if she were to marry a non- Native American, then file to force the US to give full recognition via Tribal Sovereignty laws! Once won, it would open a huge precident to challenge DOMA as being unconstitutional for all.

Just a thought...

Regardless, this is GREAT stuff!