Navajo head vetoes (anti-)gay marriage measure

[Newsjock]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/11540539.htm

Associated Press

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - The president of the Navajo Nation vetoed a measure Sunday that would have banned same-sex marriage on the Indian reservation.

The Tribal Council voted unanimously last month to pass legislation that restricts a recognized union to a relationship between a man and a woman, and prohibits plural marriages as well as marriages between close relatives.

... President Joe Shirley Jr. said in a statement released Sunday that he strongly supports family stability but the proposed measure said nothing about domestic violence, sexual assault and gangs on the Navajo Nation - problems that are rampant.

"Same-sex marriage is a non-issue on Navajoland," he said. "So why waste time and resources on it? We have more important issues to address."

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[Erika]

1. Anyone who has spent time on a reservation knows

gay relationships is the least of what they should worry about. Kind of like the U.S. Goverment, we have real problems to address.

[HawkerHurricane]

2. Is this man on drugs?

Doesn't President Joe Shirley Jr. realize that the possiblity of same sex marraiges are the CAUSE of domestic violence, sexual assault and gangs?


:sarcasm:

[rpannier]

4. I'm going to hypothesize how lush rimbaugh would see it

I'm outraged. Doesn't this Shirley guy know that it was unanimous? I mean, what's wrong with this guy. Is HE a closet homosexual himself, is that what's going on here? (snarf down a donut) I mean...his name...Joe Shirley...makes you wonder (another donut) doesn't it. The Navajo (pronounced NAVA - JO by lushie), are a proud people who have come a long way in America and realize the evil that Shrley misses. I...I...(gagging on his donut)...think (cough) something needs to be done.

At least that's how I think lushie would try and frame it. No real facts. Just a lot of slander and innuendo.

[barbaraann]

3. Strange story.

It seems like we aren't getting all the info we need to understand it.

[xchrom]

5. exactly the right words.

it's a non-issue.

it should just be -- one couples marriage has nothing to do with another's.

of course that's probably not what he meant -- but i can dream.

[radwriter0555]

6. Many Northern American aboriginal tribes long recognized 'gay' men as holy

men, and kept them safe and revered them, and appreciated their existence, rather than feared it.

In their societies there is nothing wrong with not being heterosexual.

Some savages, right?

[mtnester]

8. You are right on that...many times gay or bisexual individuals

become their shamans, men and women who even the tribal leaders turn to for guidance and advice.

[customerserviceguy]

10. Well, the council that voted unanimously to worry about this

has been drinking too much of the white man's religious kool-aid, that's for sure. I guess they had enough sense to elect Joe Shirley as their leader, and that was it. Let's see if he can keep his job, and his leadership position among them.

[IbeaBonehead]

7. Cut and Paste material

"Same-sex marriage is a non-issue on Navajoland (Fill in your own state/community)," he said. "So why waste time and resources on it? We have more important issues to address."

Amen brother, Amen.

[Ian David]

9. Your people call it Gay Marriage. My people call it Equality.

Who remembers that stereotyping TV commercial from the 1970's?

[CO Liberal]

11. The Navajo Nation is More Advanced Than Ours

:-)

I've always had respect for Native Americans - today, even more.