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Cherokee Nation seeking to ban same-sex marriage
Monday, May 17, 2004

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is moving to ban same-sex marriages after a marriage application was issued to a lesbian couple.

"We believe the definition of marriage is only between a man and woman," Chief Chad Smith told The Daily Oklahoman. "Any other marriage application would not be valid."

A tribal court deputy clerk approved the application last week. Officials found out and began searching for ways to make that won't happen again.

The tribe has an agreement with the state of Oklahoma on marriage licenses and applications, according to the paper. But Oklahoma bans same-sex marriages.

According to the federal Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, "No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such relationship."

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Cherokees working to ban gay vows (The Daily Oklahoman 5/16)
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Cherokees unwittingly thrust into gay marriage debate (The Native American Times 5/17)

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