It really isn't too hard to separate different kinds of possible "marriage" and do away with the "slippery slope" argument. The simple standard: is it between consenting adults?
1. Marriage between a man and a woman: already legal. 2. Marriage between two men or two women: obviously should be legal. 3. Marriage binding more than two people: as long as all involved are consenting adults, it shouldn't be anyone else's business. The only major problem I have with it is if marriage is still an institute of the state, doing tax benefits and shit like that might get complicated. (This is one reason I'm in favor of removing marriage from the government. One civil union between any two of the members of the "marriage", and let the rest be done in a private institution.) Also, as was pointed out above practicing polygamists often force underage females into marriages which is simply disgusting and really was the reason I was opposed to any form of polygamy at first. 4. Marriage between an adult human and an animal: The animal cannot legally consent, so it should NOT be legal. 5. Marriage between an adult and a child, or between two children: since they do not fit the legal definition of "adult" and are not psychologically mature, then they should not be allowed to legally marry (or have a civil union, or whatever). 6. Marriage between a person and an inanimate object: it would be a waste of resources to recognize such a union on a legal level; if you want to be "married" to your refrigerator in the private sector knock yourself out but I think it's bloody bizarre.
But yeah, I think many people in favor of gay marriage are also in favor of legal, consensual polygamy. (I'd never do it myself but...) In the case of Kody Brown, though I find his culture to be strange and would never make the choice any of his wives made, they are welcome to make that choice themselves if that's what makes them happy, and for the state to decide for them what kind of living arrangement they're allowed to have is intrusive.
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Date: 13/7/11 21:46 (UTC)1. Marriage between a man and a woman: already legal.
2. Marriage between two men or two women: obviously should be legal.
3. Marriage binding more than two people: as long as all involved are consenting adults, it shouldn't be anyone else's business. The only major problem I have with it is if marriage is still an institute of the state, doing tax benefits and shit like that might get complicated. (This is one reason I'm in favor of removing marriage from the government. One civil union between any two of the members of the "marriage", and let the rest be done in a private institution.) Also, as was pointed out above practicing polygamists often force underage females into marriages which is simply disgusting and really was the reason I was opposed to any form of polygamy at first.
4. Marriage between an adult human and an animal: The animal cannot legally consent, so it should NOT be legal.
5. Marriage between an adult and a child, or between two children: since they do not fit the legal definition of "adult" and are not psychologically mature, then they should not be allowed to legally marry (or have a civil union, or whatever).
6. Marriage between a person and an inanimate object: it would be a waste of resources to recognize such a union on a legal level; if you want to be "married" to your refrigerator in the private sector knock yourself out but I think it's bloody bizarre.
But yeah, I think many people in favor of gay marriage are also in favor of legal, consensual polygamy. (I'd never do it myself but...) In the case of Kody Brown, though I find his culture to be strange and would never make the choice any of his wives made, they are welcome to make that choice themselves if that's what makes them happy, and for the state to decide for them what kind of living arrangement they're allowed to have is intrusive.