7th Native American Tribe To Allows Same-Sex Marriage

Before the arrival of European explorers and the churchmen who typically accompanied them (and the later the American genocide against Native Americans), a goodly number of Native American tribes accepted homosexuality and gender nonconformity within their societies.  The names applied to such individuals varied - e.g., two spirited individuals - but acceptance far exceeded what came to be the norm after the hate and bigotry of the missionaries was forced onto the real Americans, if you will.  Once the toxic work of the Christian missionaries and military actions were done, not only had the majority of Native Americans been annihilated but so had acceptance of homosexuality and gender nonconformity.  Thankfully, things are improving on the latter front.  As Gay Star News is reporting, a 7th tribe has decided to allow same sex marriage.  Here are highlights:

Oklahoma couple Darren Black Bear and Jason Pickel have become the third same-sex couple to be married by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes – the seventh US tribal nation to allow same-sex couples to do so.
The lands of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are the only part of Oklahoma where same-sex couples may legally marry as the state passed a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage in 2004.
However at least one half of the couple must be a member of the tribe for them to marry them.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/7th-native-american-tribe-allows-same-sex-couples-wed281013#sthash.hCp0lLjY.dpuf

Oklahoma couple Darren Black Bear and Jason Pickel have become the third same-sex couple to be married by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes – the seventh US tribal nation to allow same-sex couples to do so.
The lands of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are the only part of Oklahoma where same-sex couples may legally marry as the state passed a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage in 2004.
However at least one half of the couple must be a member of the tribe for them to marry them.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/7th-native-american-tribe-allows-same-sex-couples-wed281013#sthash.hCp0lLjY.dpuf

Oklahoma couple Darren Black Bear and Jason Pickel have become the third same-sex couple to be married by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes – the seventh US tribal nation to allow same-sex couples to do so.

The lands of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes are the only part of Oklahoma where same-sex couples may legally marry as the state passed a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage in 2004.

However at least one half of the couple must be a member of the tribe for them to marry them.

A spokesperson for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes told the Los Angeles Times that the tribe had begun marrying same-sex couples last December but had not sought to publicize it.

Native American tribes that are recognized by the US Government have the same power to pass their own laws within their territories as US states.

Washington state’s Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation council voted in September to legalize same-sex marriages on their lands, becoming the sixth US Native American tribal nation to publicly do so.

Oregon’s Coquille tribe began marrying same-sex couples in 2009 and Washington state’s Suquamish Tribe began doing so in 2011 while Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians did so in March this year.

Michigan's Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians also began marrying same-sex couples earlier this year.

Pokagon, Coquille and Odawa lands are the only parts of Oregon and Michigan where same-sex couples may wed as the states have constitutional bans on same-sex marriage.

 

Kudos to these tribes!!