Native Americans react to marriage application given to a gay couple

An Oklahoma lesbian couple will soon tie the knot after they received a marriage application from the Cherokee Nation. <br/><br/>Cherokee leaders now want to clarify "marriage" as a union between a man

Monday, May 17th 2004, 5:44 am

By: News On 6

An Oklahoma lesbian couple will soon tie the knot after they received a marriage application from the Cherokee Nation.

Cherokee leaders now want to clarify "marriage" as a union between a man and a woman. But what do other tribes think about the tribal tradition of marriage? News on 6 reporter Patrina Adger talks to a member of Osage Nation about the issue. John Cocke is a member of the Osage Nation. "I believe anybody who is a loving individual who is of age who is an adult has a right to be in love with whoever they choose." He also believes people of the same sex should marry.

He says those people are defined as two-spirited people, those who have a balance of both male and female roles, people who were considered in the Osage Nation as holy and powerful. "Historically our tribes not all of them but the majority of tribes revered them as holy people as medicine people they were looked at continuing the spirituality of our tribes."

As a two-spirited person John says gays should have the right to choose who they want as a partner and it should be made legal where there's binding contracts. Now that Massachusetts has become the first state to allow same sex marriages, in Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation is trying to clarify its law on marriage as a union between a man and a woman. "We're talking love and commitment and dedication between two people as the way it should be male-female, female-female, male-male."

The News on 6 called the Osage Nation to ask if they agree with John Cocke's statements and they did not get back to us by news time.

The Cherokee Nation issued a statement from the General Counsel. They believe Cherokee law does recognize the marriage between only a man and a woman. They have advised court personnel to no longer issue any marriage applications or certificatesâ€™ involving same sex marriages until this matter is resolved.