Bill That Would Recognize Same-Sex Marriage Fails In Muscogee National Council Meeting

A bill that would recognize same-sex marriage within the Muscogee Nation failed last week in a Muscogee National Council Meeting.

The current law within the nation says same-sex marriage is banned, and those marriages recognized in other Indian nations or states wouldn't be recognized within Muscogee Creek Nation.

The bill was rejected in a 3-1 vote.

Dode Barnett said she sponsored this bill because Muscogee Creek Citizens deserve equal protection under the law and should be able to exercise their constitutional rights like the rest of those in the U.S.

Councilor Nelson Harjo voted against the bill during the meeting.

He said if Muscogee Creek same-sex couples want to get married, they can do so with the state of Oklahoma.

"I think when we look at the overall thing, as long as you're a Creek citizen, you're still protected by our law; you're still allowed to do the different things we do as a people and as an individual,” Nelson Harjo, SR, Okmulgee District-Seat B, said. “We don't tell each other what kind of car to buy, but we still are able to do those things and enjoy those practices. We're not told who we can marry as far as individual people, you know, whoever they are, but we still enjoy these things."

Councilor Dode Barnett sponsored the bill and said it's important marriage between same-sex couples is recognized within the sovereign nation.

"If we're arguing we can handle criminal cases and we can handle taxation on our reservation per the treaties, why would we make our people go to the state to be married."

Gino Barichello says this ruling sends a message to the LGBTQ community that people like him are not equal.

"In this day and age, we're still not considered equal,” Dode Barnett, Creek District – Seat A, said. “We have to differentiate between people and their love for one another, and so that's not protected and afforded to tribal citizens, and that's unfortunate," said Barichello.

Barnett says she will not put this Bill forward again and says if someone else wants to present the bill, she will support it.