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Proposed Navajo Nation bill would remove ban on same-sex marriage

By Vaughan Jones
Published: Friday, March 25, 2022 - 3:41pm
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The Legislature of the Navajo Nation heard a bill this week that would repeal a portion of a 2005 law that prohibits same sex marriage.

But the legislation proposes that the method for a traditional Navajo wedding ceremony involving a man and a woman would remain unchanged.

The bill states that it is in line with the Supreme Court of the United States ruling that marriage is a fundamental right regardless of gender and sexual orientation.

It also includes proposed amendments to related sections of the Navajo Nation Code, including amending the Nation’s Marriage License form to be gender neutral.

The legislation proposes that keeping the traditional Navajo wedding the same will not prohibit nor deny same-sex marriage because there are other methods for marrying.

The bill is currently in its five-day comment period, and the comments will be reviewed before the bill is introduced to a committee within the Legislature.

Politics Gender Native American Affairs