Top 10 Reasons The US Should Legalize Polygamy
What exactly is Polygamy? Most of us think that it is the practice of a man marrying more than one wife and it is true, that is a specific form of polygamy known as polygyny. Another form of polygamy is known as polyandry and is the practice of one woman having more than one husband. While polygyny is the more common form of polygamy, polyandry has been known to be practiced in some cultures.
Polygamy has always been considered illegal in the USA; indeed declaring the practice illegal was one of the
requirements Utah had to fulfil in order to become a state of the USA. Prior to that time polygamy had been considered legal in the territory and continued to be practiced long after the ban by a break-away sect of the Church of Latter Day Saints. That ban has recently been challenged with a plural family bringing a case to Federal Court which resulted in a decision which ruled language banning ‘cohabitation’ was unconstitutional although the ruling did not prevent the state from refusing to issue multiple marriage licenses. As such polygamy is considered a crime and perpetrators can be prosecuted for bigamy.With the recent changes legalizing gay marriage many people feel it is time to reconsider the legal position of what might be considered by some to be an unconventional relationship and afford those who engage in them the same protections under the law as those in a traditional marriage.
Here are our top 10 reasons for legalizing polygamy.
You must be logged in to post a comment.