Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

National
Second hearing set in Cherokee Nation marriage case


The Cherokee Nation's top court will hold a hearing on Thursday for the second challenge to a couple's same-sex marriage.

Kathy Reynolds and Dawn McKinley easily obtained a marriage license from a tribal clerk last year. They were married by a minister recognized by the tribe.

The Cherokee Nation council soon passed a resolution to outlaw same-sex marriages. The council's attorney then filed a lawsuit seeking to bar the marriage of Reynolds and McKinley.

The Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal rejected the case on the grounds that the attorney lacked standing. But nine of the 15 council members filed a new lawsuit to prevent the legal recognition of the marriage.

Reynolds and McKinley tell The Dallas Morning News that they aren't optimistic. But they say the fight to protect their rights has been worth it.

Get the Story:
Marriage fight taken to Cherokees (The Dallas Morning News 8/17)
pwpwd

Relevant Links:
National Center for Lesbian Rights - http://www.nclrights.org
Native Out - http://www/nativeout.com
Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits - http://www.baaits.org
Dine Coalition for Cultural Preservation - http://www.dinecoalition.com

Related Stories:
Opinion: Indian Country joins anti-gay nation (8/15)
Cherokee couple faces another challenge to marriage (8/10)
Eastern Cherokees say gay marriage not an issue (8/9)
Cherokee couple claims same-sex marriage victory (8/4)
Cherokee court hears same-sex marriage case (8/3)
Same-sex marriage before Cherokee Nation court (8/1)
Gay Native Americans take top spots in pride parades (06/27)
Navajo Nation Council overrides marriage veto (06/06)
Dine Coalition opposes ban on same-sex marriages (6/3)
Democracy Now: Gay Marriage in Native America (5/31)
Navajo same-sex marriage ban up for vote again (5/25)
Same-sex marriage before top Cherokee Nation court (05/19)
Shirley cites major opposition to gay marriage ban (5/17)
Override of Navajo same-sex marriage bill sought (5/16)
Navajo president explains view on gay marriage ban (05/04)
Navajo president calls gay marriage ban intrusive (5/3)
Navajo president vetoes bill to ban gay marriage (5/2)
Navajo president weighs bill to ban gay marriage (4/26)
Navajo Nation Council votes to ban same-sex marriage (4/25)
Navajo Nation Council takes up same-sex marriage (4/22)
Tim Giago: Gay marriage debate killed Democrats (4/19)
Navajo Nation Council to take up same-sex marriage (4/18)
Blackfeet man says homosexuals unnatural (03/17)
Vote scheduled on tribal same-sex marriage ban (01/18)
Opinion: Cherokees learned bigotry from Baptists (10/01)
Navajo Nation bill would ban same-sex marriages (07/15)
Cherokee couple fights tribe's same-sex marriage ban (06/28)
Cherokee Nation couple denied right to marry (06/16)
Cherokee Nation council votes to ban gay marriage (6/15)
Few Oklahoma tribes have same-sex marriage rule (05/19)
Cherokee Nation seeking to ban same-sex marriage (5/17)
Giago: Gays were highly respected by Sioux Nation (09/22)