Same-Sex Marriages Ban Vetoed by Navajo President

The President of the Navajo Nation, Joe Shirley Jr., vetoed the gay marriage ban that was recently passed unanimously by the Tribal Council. In an Associated Press article he stated, "Same-sex marriage is a non-issue on Navajoland," he said. "So why waste time and resources on it? We have more important issues to address."

According to ABC News, on April 22, 2005, The Navajo Nation outlawed same-sex marriages on its reservation by passing legislation that restricts a recognized union to that between a man and a woman. The law also prohibits plural marriages and marriages between close relatives.

In June, 2004, The Cherokee National Tribal Council passed a law that clarified the ban on gay marriage. It specifically banned same-sex marriages. Read More...