Little Traverse Bay Bands Of Odawa Indians, Native American Tribe, May Pass Gay Marriage

A Michigan-based Native American tribal nation has come one step closer to passing a marriage equality statue.

If approved, the tribal council of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians will become the third tribe in the nation to pass a gay marriage bill. According to draft tribal minutes, a 5-4 tribal council vote was passed March 3 on a same-sex marriage statue, as Petosky News reports.

“I’m going to have to think about it, “ Little Traverse Bay Bands Chairman Dexter McNamara, who can sign or veto the legislation, is quoted as saying. “The decision will come from me. It will come from my heart.”

If McNamara approves the amendment, the tribe will acknowledge and perform same-sex marriage, as Think Progress points out.

The Coquille Tribe in North Bend, Ore., began recognizing the same-sex unions in 2009, while the Suquamish Tribe in Suquamish, Wash., followed suit in 2011, the Associated Press is reporting.

Although same-sex marriage has no legal standing in the state of Michigan, Native American tribes are self-governed, the report adds.