Indian Tribe in Washington Adopts Same-Sex Marriage

The Suquamish Tribe in Washington has approved same-sex marriage. The Suquamish Tribe has 950 enrolled members of which 240 work for the tribal government.

SEATTLE (AP) — An American Indian Tribe in Washington state has adopted a law recognizing gay marriage, making it only the second tribe in the country known to do so.

The Suquamish Tribal Council voted Monday to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples on its reservation near Seattle, after the measure gained support from more than 100 tribal members at a meeting this spring.
The new law allows the tribal court to issue a marriage license to two unmarried people, regardless of their sex, if they’re at least 18 years old and at least one of them is enrolled in the tribe.

It will be up to other courts to decide if unions granted under the Suquamish ordinance will be recognized elsewhere in Washington, said the tribe’s attorney, Michelle Hansen.

Boxer Resurrected Defunct Indian Tribe, Changed Bill to Allow Casino Gambling, Son Pockets $8 Million as Consultant?

Barbara Boxer's son reportedly made as much as $8 million in a failed (so far) attempt to build an Indian casino on the outskirts of San Francisco. When we dig into the reported details, we have to wonder if this isn't old fashioned corruption.

In 1998, Lynn Woolsey introduced legislation reinstating an Indian tribe in the wine country of Northern California that had been declared defunct by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1958...

In 2000, Boxer helpfully picked up the Woolsey bill, but changed the prohibition against gaming, and designated any land that the group owned to be considered as a reservation...

After getting the provision allowing the newly reconstituted Indian tribe to build a casino, the tribe reportedly hired two firms Barbara Boxer's son was a partner in.

The tribe turned its fortunes over to two firms to make its dreams of wealth come true — Platinum Advisers, a political consulting/lobbying firm, and Kenwood Investments 2. Amazingly, and I’m certain quite coincidentally, Barbara Boxer’s son, Doug, was a partner in each firm...

According to Reference.com, Doug Boxer’s take from the project was a very Abramoff-like $8 million.

It sounds like there may be a swamp here that needs draining...