The
Suquamish Tribal Council formally changed its ordinances Aug. 1 to
allow for same-sex marriage. The move extends equal marriage rights
to gay couples on the reservation and other places where same-sex
marriage is recognized. The final vote was unanimous in favor of
recognizing same-sex marriage.
The
move is the result of a four-year campaign spearheaded by Heather
Purser, a 28-year-old Suquamish member living in Seattle. Purser came
out four years ago and has worked to change Suquamish law ever since.
“I wanted to
feel accepted,” she said. “The Suquamish Tribe has always
been my home.”
While
39 states only recognize heterosexual marriage, as a result of the
struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender liberation, six
states and the District of Columbia now issue licenses to same-sex
couples. Two states recognize gay marriages from other states. In
2009, the Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon became the first Native
American tribe to marry a gay couple, two women from Edmonds,
Washington.
