Heather Purser
Heather Purser is an LGBT advocate, diver, and member of the Suquamish tribe in Seattle, Washington.[1][2] She is known for pioneering same-sex marriage rights for her tribe, making the Suquamish tribe the second Native American tribe to amend their laws to recognize same-sex marriage, the first being the Oregon Coquille tribe.[3][4] Purser is openly lesbian and came out during her teens.[3]
Early life
While growing up Purser faced discrimination over her pale skin and red hair, which caused some Native Americans to distance themselves from her and call her names.[5][1] This led to her dropping out of Haskell Indian Nations University, an all Native American school, over claims that other students had beaten her in her dorm room and that the university had dropped their inquiry into the assault.[5] Purser claims that the school's administrators pressed her to leave the school in favor of "a school where there were more people like me."[5] She eventually transferred to the Western Washington University in Bellingham, where she gained more self-confidence as a lesbian indigenous woman.[5]
After finishing college Purser became a diver for her tribe's seafood business, Squamish Seafood, in Puget Sound.[6]
Sexuality
Purser first identified as lesbian when she was seven but was not open about her sexuality until she was sixteen,[7][3] when her non-Native American mother found Purser's journal, which contained lesbian romantic fiction, and the book Annie on my Mind.[3] Her mother was not supportive of her daughter's sexuality and Purser reported that she was "thrown down the stairs. I got screamed at. She called all the people in the family and told them to watch their children around me."[5] Later that day Purser came out as openly lesbian.[3] She has experienced further discrimination over her sexuality, and has been on the receiving end of both verbal and physical attacks.[1]
Same-sex marriage
Around 2009 Purser began approaching her tribal leaders to ask them about recognizing same-sex marriage, making her the first to do so within her tribe.[5] She did not seek assistance for her efforts, as she worried that others were unconcerned with same-sex marriage rights and would not be interested in helping her.[5] In March 2011 Purser attended a tribal meeting where approximately 300 of her fellow tribes people were in attendance to again ask for recognition of same-sex marriage.[1] Her request was met with an "enthusiastic yes", which led to tribe officials unanimously voting to legally recognize same-sex marriage in August 2011.[1]
For her efforts Purser was recognized by Seattle mayor Michael McGinn during the city's annual Human Rights day celebration on February 16, 2012. A month prior, Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire heralded Purser as a role model and inspiration.[8][9] Gregoire would later use Purser's story during a 2012 news conference to introduce similar legislation for the state of Washington.[8] Purser was invited to the conference and was able to speak with the governor.[8] Later that year the Greater Seattle Business Association (GBSA) granted Purser the Business and Humanitarian award for "voice of social justice."[10]
References
- ^ a b c d e Yardley, William (2011-08-11). "Suquamish Tribe Approves Same-Sex Marriage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
- ^ "Washington indian tribe allows gay marriage". Retrieved 2017-10-04.
- ^ a b c d e Bilger, Audrey; Kort, Michele (2012-03-06). Here Come the Brides!: Reflections on Lesbian Love and Marriage. Da Capo Press. ISBN 9781580054508.
- ^ "Kitsap County's Suquamish Tribe makes same-sex marriage legal". The Seattle Times. 2011-08-02. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Diver Heather Purser Pioneers Same-Sex Marriage for Suquamish - Indian Country Media Network". indiancountrymedianetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ Ostrander, Madeline. "Same-Sex Marriage Brings Healing to Me—and My Tribe". YES! Magazine. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
- ^ Hotakainen, Rob (2013-05-12). "Among Indian tribes, a division over gay marriage". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
- ^ a b c Duff, Deanna (2012-02-06). "SUQUAMISH TRIBAL MEMBER A LEADER IN WASHINGTON STATE'S MARRIAGE EQUALITY MOVEMENT". Equally Wed. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
- ^ "Human rights award for Suquamish tribal member". The Seattle Times. 2011-12-09. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
- ^ "SGN - Seattle Gay News - Page 5 - GSBA Business and Humanitarian Awards honor leadership, philanthropy - Friday, February 24, 2012 - Volume 40 Issue 08". www.sgn.org. Retrieved 2017-10-04.