If you are like most people, then you have probably heard about at least one of the many things in the news related to gay marriage since the Supreme Court’s ruling. If you have been living under a rock, gay marriage was made legal in every state in June. There have been a wide range of reactions, with most people applauding the Supreme Court’s ruling, saying this was another step in the right direction for equality for all. Some people have been unhappy, and some same sex couples have had a hard time getting their marriage licenses due to offices refusing to issue them, despite the ruling.

Some people said this was a slippery slope, and warned it would only be a matter of time before people would want polygamy to be made legal, and that before long, people will want permission to marry animals. While this sounds a bit extreme and we almost certainly won’t hear any stories of a man being able to marry his dog and collect the dog’s death benefits when he dies, the polygamy legalization is something that people may have been wondering about. While there are currently no steps being made to legalize polygamy in America, there have been people comparing the two.

“Sister Wives”

“Sister Wives” is a television show that airs on TLC. It is a reality television show that covers the lives of a man named Kody Brown and his four wives. The television series shows viewers what life is like for the wives that have to share their husband with other women. It is an idea that fascinates many people, but this doesn’t mean people think it sounds like a good idea or that it is something they would like to experience. The family is Mormon, and the reason they engage in polygamy is because it used to be part of Mormon tradition. However, most Mormons do not engage in polygamy anymore. Here are some fast facts on the Mormon’s views on polygamy:

• Mormons currently believe God’s idea of marriage is between one man and one woman.
• Polygamy was common among Mormons starting around 1840.
• Polygamy was always one man with two or more wives, never the other way around.
• In 1890, the practice of polygamy was no longer the norm.
• Ever since 1904, it has been forbidden in the Mormon Church and those who are engaged in it cannot be members.

Legal Trouble

The polygamous family has had their share of legal trouble, but they have had a legal victory when a Federal Judge ruled Kody Brown could stay legally married to his four wives, which overturned the former ruling that banned polygamy.

Comparing Polygamy and Gay Marriage

Now Brown and his four wives are comparing polygamy with gay marriage. They feel the government ruling that any kind of adult relationship (granted it is consensual) is wrong. They say it doesn’t matter how unpopular or how common the type of union is, they feel all of these laws which formerly made same sex marriage illegal and currently makes polygamy illegal are very outdated. That being said, they aren’t looking to change the current laws. They seem to be happy the judge ruled in their favor determining that their marriage could stay legal, and they don’t seem to be interested in doing anything else about the legalization of this type of marriage. They argue their show has shown how polygamous marriages can be as happy and fulfilling as monogamous marriages.

Polygamy Made Legal?

While it’s impossible to predict whether or not polygamous marriages will be made legal at any point in the future, it does not appear to be much of a threat right now. Not many people are in favor of them, and despite what the Brown family may think, gay marriage and polygamy are not comparable. Even the current Mormon religion feels that polygamy should not be legal, so it isn’t likely there will be any laws in the works regarding this type of marriage anytime soon.