Navajos Nix Gay Marriages

Supporters of gay marriage say that conservative
Christians are the major impediment to having the
new matrimonial standard.

But some Native Americans don't like the idea
either.

Joining the voters of the 11 states who passed laws
banning gay marriage last November, the Navajo
Nation Council has banned same sex marriage and also
prohibited intermarriage between close relatives.

While explaining that Council was not promoting
discrimination, Navajo Council official Omer Begay
said that the Nation's Dine Fundamental Law teaches
that there is a purpose for a man and a woman in
marriage.

Begay asked the delegates to support the legislation
saying, "We are mainly interested in strengthening
policy. Many of our young people have inquired about
relations. To date, we do not have a guide for our
people. We can clarify with the creation of this
policy."

Fellow Council member Lorenzo Curley added that the
legislation raises questions about how the Navajo
Nation deals with issues that arise. "The question
before us focuses on what we think about the
foundation of our society. Are we just going to be
swept along?" he asked.

Echoing the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, who in
a pre-Conclave homily warned that "We are moving
toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not
recognize anything as for certain and which has as
its highest goal one's own ego and one's own
desires," Curley said that the rest of the world
lives under a philosophy of relativism where the
highest value is one's own ego or self, but that the
Navajo leaders want to send a message to the young
people to continue to respect and live by the
Fundamental Laws of the Dine.