Gay marriage is banned in Oregon and the most states in the U.S. But if you are gay and Native American you are lucky: The Coquille Indian Tribe on the southern Oregon coast recently adopted a law that recognizes same-sex marriage.
The law extends to gay and lesbian partners all tribal benefits of marriage – even if a Coquille marries an Italian or Pakistani, The Oregonian and USA Today report.
According to anthropologist Brian Gilley, The Coquilles are probably the first tribe to legalize same-sex marriage. Gilley is author of the book, “Becoming Two-Spirit: Gay Identity and Social Acceptance in Indian Country”.
The interesting thing is that many Native American tribes historically accepted same-sex relationships. But in the colonial era, Europeans tended to change that.
Native Americans not only accepted lesbian and gay people, they also respected them as prophets, hunters or healers, anthropologist Rae Trewartha writes in The New Internationalist.
English and French-Canadian fur trappers were surprised to find that there were significant numbers of men dressed as women among the Native Indians, Scott Bidstrup writes:
What intrigued them the most, however, was the esteem with which these men were held by their fellow tribesmen. These men were considered to be spiritually gifted, a special gift to the tribe by God, men with a particular insight into spiritual matters.
Native Americans with mixed gender identity are called “Two Spirit” (see also a New York Times story about a Two Spirit gathering)
The new law rises interesting legal questions, anthropologist Brian Gilley explains, Because the Coquilles have federal status, a marriage within the tribe would be federally recognized. But that would violate the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that says the federal government “may not treat same-sex relationships as marriages for any purpose.”
“The federal government could challenge the Coquille law as a way of testing the limits of tribal independence”, he says.
>> Gay marriage in Oregon? Tribe says yes (The Oregonian, 20.8.08)
>> Native American tribe to allow same-sex marriages (USA Today, 22.8.08)
SEE ALSO:
Law and multiculturalism: When law crosses borders
A subculture of hefty, hirsute gay men is attracting the attention of academics
Because Native American reservations are sovereign nations, they can do this if their tribal council approves it. I think it is great – there has been a long tradition of “gay” or “two spirit” people among Native Americans, and they see that this is another way in helping us move forward as a culture.
I have been reading on the native american spirit essence and it tells me lots about my gay anchestors and the common ground that native american’s have with gay’s spirit essence.
I have native american in my background but am mostly western European.
I would like to learn more about my gay anchestors as well as my american native anchestors especially at how the native Americans saw gay people in there culture as special people.
this is fascinating to because the western christian Europeans has committed genocide on both the native Americans and the gay people.
Thanks john
I think it’s great that most Native tribes allow gay men and women to marry or simply lead their lives as gay men and women.
I find it difficult to contact any gay native men online , maybe it’s because I don’t know where to look for or even chat with online with any gay native men.
I think the American Natives are giving all of this country good example of equality.
Mike