The flag of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Image from Wikipedia
Leaders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina passed a resolution last December that cites God and the Bible in banning same-sex marriage. Ordinance No. 381 states that "generation upon generation" of Cherokees have recognized marriage as "the union between a man and a woman." As proof, it cites three Bible verses, including one that defines homosexuality as being an "error." "The licensing and solemnization of same sex marriages are not allowed within this jurisdiction," the resolution reads in a section that bars the tribe from authorizing same-sex marriages. At the same time, the tribe's marriage law extends "full faith and credit" to marriages that have been performed in other jurisdictions. North Carolina has recognized such marriages since an October 2014 court decision so the tribe presumably accepts those unions as legal. The U.S. Supreme Court also has required all states to recognize same-sex marriage. The decision, however, does not apply to tribal governments. Get the Story:
Gay marriage discouraged within American Indian tribes (The Daily Tar Heel 8/17)
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