AFA: God Kicked Native Americans Off Their Land For Sinning Against Him

Three years ago American Family Association spokesdouche Bryan Fischer declared that Native Americans are "morally disqualified from sovereign control of American soil" because they rejected attempts to convert them to Christianity. The AFA ended up yanking that column. We'll see if they let this latest batshittery remain.

Anti-Redskins Ad Airs During NBA Finals

Via ABC News:

Native Americans are sending a loud message to the Washington Redskins. A northern California tribe paid for a commercial to air in seven major U.S. cities during halftime of Tuesday's NBA Finals game, their latest plea for the NFL team to change its “racist” name and mascot. “In my opinion, the ‘r’ word is just as derogatory a slur as the ‘n’ word,” Marshall McKay, chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, said in a video about the “Change the Mascot” campaign. The minute-long commercial, called “Proud to Be,” is a shortened version of a similar ad that was posted online earlier this year. In it, a narrator lists adjectives that could describe Native Americans -- “Indian,” “Navajo, “Sioux,” "Spiritualist,” “strong” -- before the camera zooms in on a Redskins helmet, “the one thing they don’t” call themselves.

Here's the full original clip.

(Tipped by JMG reader Al)

Quote Of The Day - Sally Kern

"I find it kind of sad that this tribe is not willing to recognize what 75 percent of the voters of Oklahoma declared years ago, that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Those of us who are Christians, who believe the Bible, are we going to have to give that up to satisfy the minority group that wants to redefine marriage. They can love whomever they want, there’s no laws right now that prevents two people of the same sex from living together." - Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, who is super-upset that another Native American same-sex couple has legally married. (Image and transcript via Towleroad, who has video.)

RELATED: In 2011 Kern declared that gay people "are worse then terrorists." A month later she declared that gay people might be plotting to murder her.

OKLAHOMA: Gay Native American Couple Marries Legally On Tribal Land

In May of this year, two Native American JMG readers married in Michigan at the approval of the Odawa tribe. And now two gay Native Americans have married in Oklahoma with the blessings of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.

For the past five years, Jason Pickel has wanted to marry boyfriend Darren Black Bear. The two even planned a trip to Iowa, a state that recognizes same-sex marriage. But when the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act last June, Pickel had an idea. He called the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe's courthouse and asked a simple question. "I was really expecting a big no,” said Pickel. “I thought we're on our way to Iowa, but I called the tribe and they said, 'Yeah come on down, it's twenty bucks.'" Twenty dollars for what no amount of money could buy in Oklahoma -- a marriage license made legal by the tribal code. Its requirements, both people be of Native American descent and live within the tribe's jurisdiction. Nowhere does it specify gender. “I do know at the end of the day the state offices won't recognize it, but they kind of have to,” said Pickel. That's because on sovereign Indian land, state laws don't apply, making Jason and Darren the first publicly married same-sex couple in Oklahoma, a milestone, he hopes is followed.

Pickel's happiness is hampered by only one thing: "When we have equality in all 50 states and all U.S. territories, that is when we'll have true equality. That's when I will be truly, truly happy." (Tipped by JMG reader Brandy)

RELATED: Other Native American tribes that have approved same-sex marriage: The Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon (2009), The Suquamish Tribe in Washington state (2011), the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Michigan (2013), The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state (2013), the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians in Michigan (2013), and the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel in California (2013).

Photo Of The Day

NBC News reports on today's tribal wedding in Michigan:

Dexter McNamara, chairman of the 4,600-member Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in northern Michigan, wed Tim LaCroix, 53, and Gene Barfield, 60, of Boyne City. After McNamara read the couple's vows and led the ceremony in English, a member of the tribe followed and conducted a tribal ceremony in their language. "How could the world be better? How could the world be better? … I'm just full of joy and happiness and I love my husband," Barfield said. "We’re so unbelievably grateful to the tribe and so full of respect for their position in this.”

The couple met 30 years ago when they were stationed at Orlando's Naval Training Center.

UNRELATED: My family briefly lived on that base when we first moved to Orlando.  I learned to drive on the deserted access road around the base parade grounds, the one place my mother knew I wouldn't crash into other cars. Not long after that, I was dropping swabbies off at the front gate after meeting them at the Parliament House. Good times.

TODAY: Michigan To See First Legal Gay Wedding On Tribal Land

Last week I noted that the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians had legalized same-sex marriage.  Today Michigan will see its first such wedding.

Planning a wedding in less than a week doesn't bother either Tim LaCroix or Gene Barfield. Arrangements still undecided -- what to wear and who to call since there is no time to mail invitations -- seem not to bother the couple. "We ordered some wedding cupcakes and that is about it," LaCroix jokes. For 53-year-old LaCroix and 60-year-old Barfield both of Boyne City, their wedding Friday will be about finally having their 30-year relationship recognized. It will also be a historic statement. The couple will be the first legal same-sex marriage in Michigan under the amended Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians marriage statute, which is expected to be signed at 10 a.m. Friday. Tribal sovereignty will protect their marriage from both a 2004 Michigan constitutional amendment and the federal Defense of Marriage Act -- being debated in the U.S. Supreme Court -- defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

LaCroix is a tribal member and left this comment on last week's JMG post:

Just wanted to let everyone know that if and when the Tribal Chairman signs this into law that my partner and I have already obtained our marriage license and application. We have been together for 30 years and we are both veterans who met while we were in the service. We have been waiting for Michigan to pass it and hopefully they will do it soon. Luckily my tribe is ahead on this issue.

We wish them the best!

Native American Tribe OK's Marriage

The tribal council of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Michigan has legalized same-sex marriage. Think Progress notes: "Under consideration by the tribal council since last March, the new statute will allow the tribe to both recognize and perform same-sex marriage. A similar measure failed last July by one vote." Two other Native American tribes previously approved same-sex marriage; the Suquamish Indian tribe in Washington state and the Coquille Indian tribe in Oregon.