News brief
Legislation to recognize same-sex marriage is back before the Navajo Nation Council.
Both the council and the public had mixed reactions to a similar proposal earlier this year, and it was eventually withdrawn.
The would repeal a 2005 same-sex marriage ban in the tribal nation, which lies within New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. It also includes revisions to spousal property rights and employee benefits.
Council Member Eugene Tso introduced the legislation.
鈥淭his is all I ask of you, my people all over: When are we going to stop discriminating?鈥� Delegate Tso asked during a in April. 鈥淚t hurts them.鈥�
In that meeting, council members voted against it.
Many objections from the council and public were based on some people鈥檚 Christian beliefs that gay marriage should not be legal.
Jennifer Nez Denetdale teaches Indigenous gender and sexuality at the University of New Mexico.
鈥淭he forces of colonialism 鈥� including an American education, introduction of Christianity and the 鈥榗ivilizing鈥� program through the federal government 鈥� have led to this loss in our memory that at one time, depending on who you talk to, we recognized three to five genders,鈥� Nez Denetdale said at that same April meeting.
Eventually, Tso withdrew the legislation, and reintroduced it last week. The Navajo Nation鈥檚 starts July 18.
It is set to be heard in the Health Education & Human Services Committee first, but that date hasn鈥檛 been , as of Friday.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, 九色网 in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the .
