Could Gay Marriage change Polygamy?

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   ColoFlynnposted 13 years ago

   Could Gay Marriage change Polygamy?
   
   We have heard many polygamists say that they choose to have more than one spouse because they want to "share more love". Nobody could argue the fact that more love in the world is ever a bad thing, so should sister wives marry each other as well as the man? Or is it better to just take turns with your love? It doesn't mean they would have to be intimate with each other. It only means exactly what they are striving for; more love.

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2. 81

   junksellerposted 13 years ago

   Same-sex marriage (SSM) is about SSM. It shouldn't be prohibited because of some slippery slope possibility. However, the arguments against SSM are very similar to the arguments against polygamy. Still, polygamy will have to be reviewed separately and completely as its own issue.
   
   One of the issues with SSM in a legal sense is that the government can not discriminate if it has no interest in doing so. It can not discriminate against SSM because it has been unable to show that SSM causes any harm which the government has an interest in preventing.
   
   Polygamy would have to be reviewed in the same light. It could for instance be shown that polygamy is not an ideal environment for raising children and the government could argue that that gives them the right to prevent that specific type of union. The same could be said for incest.
   
   As for the tradition and religious arguments, I don't see those holding up against polygamy any more than they do against SSM.

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3. 75

   jlparkposted 13 years ago

   It depends on how you mean your question, and how you look at it.
   If you are saying "could Gay Marriage change polygamy" and meaning that it is a possibility because you believe that Gay people are in relationships with more than one person at a time - then no, it won't change polygamy - because being gay, and being in a polygamous relationship are two different, entirely seperate things - to be in a polygamous relationship there is no requirement to be gay, and vice versa.
   
   However, if you are talking about it as two seperate, yet minority, entities - I suppose it could, but you'd end up with the same problems - Christian men who cheat on their wifes and get divorced, telling you that you can't marry the person (in the case of SSM) or the people (in the case of polygamy) you love.  Thanks very much Newt!
   
   Thanks for this question - made me think!

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   1. 58

      ColoFlynnposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Im not saying gay people are polygamists. I'm saying that if polygamists' excuse as to why its legal is that they are sharing more love, that the wives should be required to mary eachother too, and put their money where their mouths are.

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4. 58

   ColoFlynnposted 13 years ago

   I don't think you guys are getting it. This isn't negative towards gay people or any of my gay friends. It's me wondering if the "sister wives" should be required to marry eachother too.

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