Stepping Up

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

And so it begins:

Kody Brown is a proud polygamist, and a relatively famous one. Now Mr. Brown, his four wives and 16 children and stepchildren are going to court to keep from being punished for it.

The family is the focus of a reality TV show, “Sister Wives,” that first appeared in 2010. Law enforcement officials in the Browns’ home state, Utah, announced soon after the show began that the family was under investigation for violating the state law prohibiting polygamy.

On Wednesday, the Browns are expected to file a lawsuit to challenge the polygamy law.

The lawsuit is not demanding that states recognize polygamous marriage. Instead, the lawsuit builds on a 2003 United States Supreme Court decision, Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down state sodomy laws as unconstitutional intrusions on the “intimate conduct” of consenting adults.

I'm in favor of gay marriage for the same reason I'm in favor of legal polygamy, legalized adult incest, and all the rest - the state really shouldn't be telling anyone else who they can and cannot be in a recognized relationship with, full stop. Unfortunately, I've found that many who agree with gay marriage do not feel the same way about these other types of adult relationships.

Why is it that "equal marriage" only exists for many when it deals with their idea of reality? Should hardcore advocates of gay marriage be lining up behind the Brown family in solidarity and support of their situation? If you believe the US Constitution allows for, if not outright mandates, gay marriage, do you feel the same way here?

Comments

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

I have several notes on who claimed the argument for gay marriage would never extend to polygamy or incest. So it'll be amusing once everyone makes their position known.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

I always felt that was a really insane position to take. It was quite clear to me that it would end up being a gateway to other adult relationships eventually - it's part of why I was in support of it.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

I'm, as I've always been, in favor of letting localities set the terms for marriages per their state Constitutions.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

If one of those notes is on me (though I doubt I post here enough to be worth noting) I will note my position has evolved since actually meeting some polyamorous folks and others in alternative relationships.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

It isn't the quantity, it's the quality :D

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

Well then I bet I'm out of the running there, too :P

Oh please...

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

I try to imply something nice, and look what I get.
Not to mention false humility ill becomes you :P

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

If I'm in those notes I base my argument off the fact that Canada has had gay marriage in Ontario for 15 years and nation-wide for 6 years and we haven't slid down that slippery slope to polygamy or incest. Nor have any animals or inanimate objects been dragged down the aisle. So it certainly doesn't have to be that way.