Wind River tribal judge presides over first same-sex marriage


The happy couple -- Saun and Renee Allen -- with Chief Judge John St.Clair. Photo from Facebook

The first same-sex marriage on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming took place in tribal court on Friday.

Chief Judge John St.Clair of the Shoshone and Arapaho Tribal Court presided over the vows of Sonya Allen and Renee Manzanares. The happy couple were joined by family and friends at the courthouse in Fort Washakie.

"Happy day happy day made me tear up to jus stare into her eyes and say that magical word 'I DO,'" Sonya Allen, who goes by Saun, said on Facebook. Renee Manzanares will be known as Renee Allen.

Wyoming barred same-sex marriage until the state law was declared unconstitutional in federal court. The law did not affect marriages in Indian Country.

Get the Story:
First Same-Sex marriage reported in Tribal Court at Fort Washakie (County 10 11/15)

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