Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) voted against S.47, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, because it included “sexual orientation” language, The Cherokee Phoenix reports.

Mullin, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was one of 138 Republicans who voted against VAWA. The bill, which was signed into law last Thursday, recognizes tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit domestic violence offenses.

Mullin said he did not object to the tribal provisions. He was a co-sponsor to H.R.780, the Violence Against Indian Women Act, which included similar language.

But Mullin said he voted against VAWA because it protects gay, lesbian and transgendered victims.

“The language regarding ‘sexual orientation’ in the bill’s non-discrimination provisions was unacceptable to me, and in my opinion had no place in a bill whose primary intent was to deal with protecting women from domestic violence,” Mullin wrote in a letter to tribal leaders, the Phoenix reported.

Get the Story:
Mullin explains his vote against VAWA (The Cherokee Phoenix 3/11)

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