The top court of the Cherokee Nation heard arguments in a same-sex marriage case on Thursday.
Dawn McKinley and Kathy Reynolds, tribal members, received a license to marry. But a tribal lawyer filed suit to challenge the license and the Cherokee Nation council subsequently passed a law to define marriage as a union between a "man" and a "woman."
McKinley and Reynolds say the traditional concept of Cherokee marriage is not gender-specific. But Todd Hembree, the attorney, says Cherokee culture has never recognized same-sex marriage.
Hembree sued on behalf of himself and on behalf of Cherokee Nation council members.
Get the Story:Cherokee court mulls same-sex marriage case (AP 12/2) Relevant Links:
National Center for Lesbian Rights - http://www.nclrights.org
Native Out - http://www/nativeout.com
Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits - http://www.baaits.org
Dine Coalition for Cultural Preservation - http://www.dinecoalition.com Related Stories:
Opinion: Taking white man's lead on anti-gay rights (08/22)
Second hearing set in Cherokee Nation marriage case (8/17)
Opinion: Indian Country joins anti-gay nation (8/15)
Cherokee couple faces another challenge to marriage (8/10)
Eastern Cherokees say gay marriage not an issue (8/9)
Cherokee couple claims same-sex marriage victory (8/4)
Cherokee court hears same-sex marriage case (8/3)
Same-sex marriage before Cherokee Nation court (8/1)
Gay Native Americans take top spots in pride parades (06/27)
Navajo Nation Council overrides marriage veto (06/06)
Dine Coalition opposes ban on same-sex marriages (6/3)
Democracy Now: Gay Marriage in Native America (5/31)
Navajo same-sex marriage ban up for vote again (5/25)
Same-sex marriage before top Cherokee Nation court (05/19)
Shirley cites major opposition to gay marriage ban (5/17)
Override of Navajo same-sex marriage bill sought (5/16)
Navajo president explains view on gay marriage ban (05/04)
Navajo president calls gay marriage ban intrusive (5/3)
Navajo president vetoes bill to ban gay marriage (5/2)
Navajo president weighs bill to ban gay marriage (4/26)
Navajo Nation Council votes to ban same-sex marriage (4/25)
Navajo Nation Council takes up same-sex marriage (4/22)
Tim Giago: Gay marriage debate killed Democrats (4/19)
Navajo Nation Council to take up same-sex marriage (4/18)
Blackfeet man says homosexuals unnatural (03/17)
Vote scheduled on tribal same-sex marriage ban (01/18)
Opinion: Cherokees learned bigotry from Baptists (10/01)
Navajo Nation bill would ban same-sex marriages (07/15)
Cherokee couple fights tribe's same-sex marriage ban (06/28)
Cherokee Nation couple denied right to marry (06/16)
Cherokee Nation council votes to ban gay marriage (6/15)
Few Oklahoma tribes have same-sex marriage rule (05/19)
Cherokee Nation seeking to ban same-sex marriage (5/17)
Giago: Gays were highly respected by Sioux Nation (09/22)