Bill introduced in Navajo Nation to legalize marriage equality

Delegate Seth Damon
Photo: Navajo Nation Council website

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Seth Damon of Bááháálí, New Mexico is sponsoring a bill to have the Navajo Nation recognize marriages between two people of any genders.

“The prohibition against same-sex marriages does not uniformly welcome or support the well-being of all Diné,” he said at Navajo Nation Pride last weekend. “Diné” is the Navajo word for “the people” and refers to the Navajo people. “The purpose of the legislation I’m sponsoring is to ensure that all Diné are welcome within the four sacred mountains and to recognize all marriages within the Navajo Nation.”

Marriage for same-sex couples was banned under Navajo law in 2005 when an amendment to the tribal code was enacted that said, “Marriage between persons of the same sex is void and prohibited.”

Then-Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr. vetoed the measure, but the Navajo Nation Council overrode his veto. People in the Navajo Nation can still get married in the state they live, but same-sex married couples do not have the same rights as opposite-sex married couples in the Navajo Nation.

“We feel it’s in the best interest of the Navajo Nation to…

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