American Indian tribe adopts law recognizing same-sex marriage

[dixiegrrrrl]

An American Indian tribe in Washington state on Monday voted to adopt a new law recognizing same-sex marriage .
The law, approved by the Suquamish Tribe council, extends marriage rights to same-sex couples on the tribe's Seattle reservation. The tribe will be permitted to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples as long as each partner is at least 18 years old and one of the two is a member of the tribe. Same-sex marriage remains illegal in Washington, so the marriages may not be recognized by the state. The vote comes four years after a lesbian tribe member began her campaign for gay marriage on the reservation. The Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon is the only other American Indian tribe to recognize same-sex marriage.

More:

http://jurist.org/paperchase/2011/08/american-indian-tribe-adopts-law-recognizing-same-sex-marriage.php

[Papillon]

1. Here is an article about this which was published in our local paper.

SUQUAMISH — Should Heather Purser decide to marry her partner, she can do that in Suquamish now.

On Monday, the Suquamish Tribal Council formally changed its ordinances to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.

The Suquamish ordinance means gay couples are afforded all the rights heterosexual couples are allowed on the reservation and other places in which gay marriages are allowed.

Purser, a 28-year-old who lives in Seattle but was raised in Kitsap County, has been trying to get the tribe's law changed for about four years. She made the most progress at the tribe's general council in March.

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/aug/01/suquamish-tribe-approves-same-sex-marriage/#ixzz1U4p9TKeJ

[fredamae]

2. Things, they are changin' for the better. In 2008 The OR

Coquille Tribe in 2008 voted to recognize same sex marriages. Interestingly enough, they are a "Sovereign Nation" and did not have to follow DOMA

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Very glad to hear that!

[Ignis]

4. This is great news.

:kick: