A Navajo Nation Lawmaker Has Introduced Marriage Equality Legislation
Diné Marriage Act prohibiting same-sex members from being married. Currently, queer Navajo couples who’ve received marriage licenses from their states won’t have their unions recognized, nor can they be married in the Nation.
However, legislation sponsored by Navajo Council delegate Eugene Tso in late March seeks to change that by repealing or adding gender-neutral sections to the marriage act.With an estimated 173,000 members, the Navajo Nation is the largest tribal group in the country that doesn’t allow for its same-sex couples to share the same benefits as their straight counterparts, including healthcare and shared property rights.In the Navajo legislative process, a five-day public comment period comes after a bill is proposed.
From March 22 to 27, about 90 people wrote in comments, according to Source NM. Forty-nine of the comments were in favor of recognizing same-sex marriages while 36 were opposed.
Four comments weren't included. Church leaders became involved by passing around petitions. Those who took issue with the new legislation largely did so based on Christian dogma.
