It鈥檚 Time to Legalize Polygamy - Fredrik deBoer

<!DOCTYPE html>     <html class="no-js">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469.html?ml=po","20150627094624","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1435398384"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta charset="utf-8"/><meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/> <title>It鈥檚 Time to Legalize Polygamy - Fredrik deBoer - POLITICO Magazine</title> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=0"/> <meta property="og:title" content="It鈥檚 Time to Legalize Polygamy"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469.html"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/2015/06/26/150626_deboer_polygamy_gty.jpg"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1160"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="629"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="POLITICO Magazine"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1423506057871638"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Welcome to the exciting new world of the slippery slope. With the Supreme Court&rsquo;s landmark ruling this Friday legalizing same sex marriage in all 50 states, social liberalism has achieved one of its central goals. A right seemingly unthinkable two decades ago has now been broadly applied to a whole new class of citizens. Following on the rejection..."/> <meta property="twitter:title" content="It鈥檚 Time to Legalize Polygamy"/> <meta name="keywords" content="Politics,Gay Marriage,Supreme Court,John Roberts,Polygamy, Fredrik deBoer"/> <meta name="news_keywords" content="Politics,Gay Marriage,Supreme Court,John Roberts,Polygamy, Fredrik deBoer"/> <meta name="description" content="Welcome to the exciting new world of the slippery slope. With the Supreme Court鈥檚 landmark ruling this Friday legalizing same sex marriage in all 50 states, social liberalism has achieved one of its central goals. A right seemingly unthinkable two decades ago has now been broadly applied to a whole new class of citizens. Following on the rejection..."/> <meta name="author" content="Fredrik deBoer"/> <link rel="image_src" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/2015/06/26/150626_deboer_polygamy_gty.jpg"> <meta name="publish_date" content="2015-06-26 12:24:10.68"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624cs_/http://www.politico.com/css/magazine/style.css"/>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://tk.politico.com/gey2nak.js"></script>  <script type="text/javascript">try{Typekit.load();}catch(e){}</script>  <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://www.politico.com/js/magazine/libraries/modernizr-2.6.2.min.js"></script>  <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.9.1/jquery.min.js"></script>  <script>window.jQuery || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/js/magazine/libraries/jquery-1.9.1.min.js"><\/script>')</script>  <script> if (Modernizr.touch) { document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/js/magazine/libraries/jquery-mobile-1.4.5.min.js"><\/script>') } </script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://www.politico.com/js/magazine/preload.min.js"></script>    <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=politico.com"></script>  <script src="//web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://cdn.optimizely.com/js/553701075.js"></script>  <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://www.politico.com/design/magazine/favicon/favicon.ico"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144脳144" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://www.politico.com/design/magazine/favicon/apple-touch-icon-144x144-precomposed.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114脳114" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://www.politico.com/design/magazine/favicon/apple-touch-icon-114x114-precomposed.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72脳72" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://www.politico.com/design/magazine/favicon/apple-touch-icon-72x72-precomposed.png"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="57x57" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://www.politico.com/design/magazine/favicon/apple-touch-icon-57x57-precomposed.png"/> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/rss/magazine.xml" rel="alternate" title="POLITICO Magazine" type="application/rss+xml"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469.html"/>  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://ad.crwdcntrl.net/5/c=1851/pe=y/var=ccauds"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://www.politico.com/js/magazine/ads.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var PP_pagekey = 'magazine-story';var adstruct_all_ads = '{"x01":{"MODULEID":"magazine-story_x01","TILE":"2","DCCAT":"null","ISFLEX":true,"SZ":"[[300,250],[300,600],[300,1050]]","POS":"1","PG":"magazine-story"},"x02":{"MODULEID":"magazine-story_x02","TILE":"3","DCCAT":"null","ISFLEX":true,"SZ":"[[300,250],[300,600],[300,1050]]","POS":"2","PG":"magazine-story"},"x05":{"MODULEID":"magazine-story_x05","TILE":"1","DCCAT":"null","ISFLEX":false,"SZ":"[[728,90],[970,90],[970,250],[320,50]]","POS":"1","PG":"magazine-story"}}'; load_ad(adstruct_all_ads); </script> <script>var _allowShare = true;</script> <link rel="author" href="https://plus.google.com/+POLITICO/posts"/><script> $(document).ready(function(){ $.fn.commonWidgetsLoadDivViaXml("https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/includes/xml/widgetMagazineMostPopular.xml"+cacheBuster(300)); }); </script> <script> </script> <script> $(document).ready(function(){ $.fn.commonWidgetsLoadDivViaXml("https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/includes/xml/widgetMagazineGlobalSponsoredContent.xml"+cacheBuster(300), "magazine-story"); }); </script> <script> $(document).ready(function(){ $.fn.commonWidgetsLoadDivViaXml("https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/includes/xml/incMagazineStoryTeasebox.xml"+cacheBuster(300)); }); </script> </head> <body class="template-story " id="pageFeatureStory"> <div class="global-wrapper">  <header class="global-header" role="banner"> <div class="global-header-inner"> <div class="global-branding"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine" title="Home"> <h1>POLITICO Magazine</h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://www.politico.com/design/magazine/template/logo@2x.png" alt="POLITICO Magazine"/> </a> </div> <nav class="global-nav menu reveal-at-medium reveal-at-large reveal-at-extra"> <h6 class="menu-toggle"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-menu"></b><span class="icon-text">Menu</span></h6> <div class="menu-content"> <ul class="primary-nav" role="navigation"> <li class="nav-latest"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/index.html#superLatest">Our Latest</a></li> <li class="nav-search"><a class="collapse-toggle" href="#superSearch">Search</a></li> <li class="nav-signup"><a class="collapse-toggle" href="#superNewsletter">Email Signup</a></li> <li class="nav-politico"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/">POLITICO.com</a></li> </ul> <ul class="social-nav"> <li class="nav-facebook"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/https://www.facebook.com/politicomag"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-facebook"></b><span class="icon-text">Like On Facebook</span></a></li> <li class="nav-twitter"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/https://twitter.com/politicomag"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-twitter"></b><span class="icon-text">Follow On Twitter</span></a></li> <li class="nav-linkedin"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.linkedin.com/company/politico"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-linkedin"></b><span class="icon-text">Network On LinkedIn</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </nav> </div> </header> <div class="super low-contrast can-collapse with-close-button" id="superSearch"> <div class="super-inner"> <div class="content layout-full"> <section class="content-group site-search"> <form class="simple-form" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://dyn.politico.com/magazine/search" method="get"> <fieldset> <label for="searchTerm">Search Term:</label> <input type="search" name="key" id="searchTerm"/> <button type="submit" class="button">Search</button> </fieldset> </form> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="super low-contrast can-collapse with-close-button" id="superNewsletter"> <div class="super-inner"> <div class="content layout-full"> <section class="content-group newsletter-signup"> <form class="simple-form" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/signup/signupAlerts.cfm?output=json" method="post" id="superNewsletterForm"> <h6>Sign up for POLITICO Magazine's weekly email: The Friday Cover</h6> <fieldset> <label for="newsletterEmail">Email Address:</label> <input type="email" name="emailAddress" id="emailAddress" required/> <button type="submit" class="button" id="superNewsletterSubmit">Submit</button> </fieldset> <input type="hidden" name="alerttypeID" value="29"> <input type="hidden" name="referer" value="http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/newsletter/"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="thefridaycover"> </form> </section> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="super-duper"> <div class="super transparent-guts no-spacing"> <div class="super-inner"> <div class="content layout-full"> <div class="ad"> <div class="ad-slot flex format-horizontal" id="magazine-story_x05"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("magazine-story_x05"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="super opaque-guts" role="main"> <div class="super-inner"> <article class="content layout-story"> <div class="content-group story-intro"> <div class="story-art alt-layout-wider"> <figure class="thumb"> <div class="fig-graphic"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/2015/06/26/150626_deboer_polygamy_gty.jpg" alt=""/> </div> </figure> <div class="summary pos-vertical-top pos-horizontal-bleed opacity-50"> <header> <p class="category"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/politics">Politics</a></p> <h1 class=" ">It鈥檚 Time to Legalize Polygamy</h1> <p class="subhead">Why group marriage is the next horizon of social liberalism.</p> </header> <footer class="meta"> <p class="byline">By FREDRIK DEBOER</p> <p class="timestamp"><time datetime="2015-06-26">June 26, 2015</time></p> </footer> </div> </div> <div class="photo-credits"> <p class="credit-photo"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-photo"></b>Getty.</p> </div> </div> <div class="content-group story-core sticky-wrapper"> <div class="user-tools alt-layout-vertical sticky-content"> <ul class="share-tools tools-list" data-share-url="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469.html"> <li class="share-facebook"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://api.addthis.com/oexchange/0.8/forward/facebook/offer?pco=tbx32nj-1.0"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-facebook"></b><span class="icon-text count-facebook">Facebook</span></a></li> <li class="share-twitter"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://api.addthis.com/oexchange/0.8/forward/twitter/offer?pco=tbx32nj-1.0&text=It%E2%80%99s%20Time%20to%20Legalize%20Polygamy"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-twitter"></b><span class="icon-text count-twitter">Twitter</span></a></li> <li class="share-linkedin"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://api.addthis.com/oexchange/0.8/forward/linkedin/offer?pco=tbxnj-1.0"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-linkedin"></b><span class="icon-text count-linkedin">LinkedIn</span></a></li> </ul> <ul class="utility-tools tools-list"> <li class="utility-email"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/mailto:/?subject=It鈥檚 Time to Legalize Polygamy&body=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469.html"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-email"></b><span class="icon-text">Email</span></a></li> <li class="utility-comment"><a href="#superComments" class="collapse-toggle"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-comment"></b><span class="icon-text">Comment</span></a></li> <li class="utility-pages"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469_full.html"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-pages"></b><span class="icon-text">One Page</span></a></li> <li class="utility-print"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469_full.html?print"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-print"></b><span class="icon-text">Print</span></a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="story-text has-drop-cap"> <div class="shifty-wrapper empty-at-base empty-at-small empty-at-medium" data-set="shifty-story-widgets"></div> <p>Welcome to the exciting new world of the slippery slope. With the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling this Friday legalizing same sex marriage in all 50 states, social liberalism has achieved one of its central goals. A right seemingly unthinkable two decades ago has now been broadly applied to a whole new class of citizens. Following on the rejection of interracial marriage bans in the 20th Century, the Supreme Court decision clearly shows that marriage should be a broadly applicable right—one that forces the government to recognize, as Friday’s decision said, a private couple’s “love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family.”</p> <div class="shifty-wrapper empty-at-large empty-at-extra" data-set="shifty-story-widgets"> <div class="story-interrupt format-s pos-right shifty-content"> <div class="ad"> <div class="ad-slot flex format-vertical" id="magazine-story_x01"></div> </div> <aside class="widget widget-popular"> <header class="widget-header"> <h2>Most Popular</h2> <p>Top Stories, Videos & Photos</p> </header> <div class="widget-content" id="widgetMagazineMostPopular"> <ol class="rank-list"> <li><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/06/donald-trump-bans-univision-staff-from-his-miami-golf-209570.html?ml=m_po">Donald Trump bans Univision staff from his Miami golf resort</a></h3></li> <li><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469.html?ml=m_po">It's time to legalize polygamy</a></h3></li> <li><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/supreme-court-gay-marriage-119462.html?ml=m_po">Supreme Court backs gay marriage</a></h3></li> <li><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/trump-bump-terrifies-gop-119449.html?ml=m_po">Trump bump terrifies GOP</a></h3></li> <li><h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/06/fox-news-drops-bob-beckel-209504.html?ml=m_po">Fox News drops Bob Beckel</a></h3></li> </ol> </div> </aside> </div> </div> <p>The question presents itself: Where does the next advance come? The answer is going to make nearly everyone uncomfortable: Now that we’ve defined that love and devotion and family isn’t driven by gender alone, why should it be limited to just two individuals? The most natural advance next for marriage lies in legalized polygamy—yet many of the same people who pressed for marriage equality for gay couples oppose it.</p> <p>This is not an abstract issue. In Chief Justice John Roberts’ dissenting opinion, he remarks, “It is striking how much of the majority’s reasoning would apply with equal force to the claim of a fundamental right to plural marriage.” As is often the case with critics of polygamy, he neglects to mention why this is a fate to be feared. Polygamy today stands as a taboo just as strong as same-sex marriage was several decades ago—it’s effectively only discussed as outdated jokes about Utah and Mormons, who banned the practice over 120 years ago.</p> <div id="widgetMagazineGlobalSponsoredContent" class="p3Global"> </div> <p>Yet the moral reasoning behind society’s rejection of polygamy remains just as uncomfortable and legally weak as same-sex marriage opposition was until recently.</p> <p>That’s one reason why progressives who reject the case for legal polygamy often don’t really appear to have their hearts in it. They seem uncomfortable voicing their objections, clearly unused to being in the position of rejecting the appeals of those who would codify non-traditional relationships in law. They are, without exception, accepting of the right of consenting adults to engage in whatever sexual and romantic relationships they choose, but oppose the formal, legal recognition of those relationships. They’re trapped, I suspect, in prior opposition that they voiced from a standpoint of political pragmatism in order to advance the cause of gay marriage.</p> <p>In doing so, they do real harm to real people. Marriage is not just a formal codification of informal relationships. It’s also a defensive system designed to protect the interests of people whose material, economic and emotional security depends on the marriage in question. If my liberal friends recognize the legitimacy of free people who choose to form romantic partnerships with multiple partners, how can they deny them the right to the legal protections marriage affords?</p> <p>Polyamory is a fact<em>. </em>People are living in group relationships today. The question is not whether they will continue on in those relationships. The question is whether we will grant to them the same basic recognition we grant to other adults: that love makes marriage, and that the right to marry is exactly that, a right.</p> <p>Why the opposition, from those who have no interest in preserving “traditional marriage” or forbidding polyamorous relationships? I think the answer has to do with political momentum, with a kind of ad hoc-rejection of polygamy as necessary political concession. And in time, I think it will change.</p> <p>The marriage equality movement has been both the best and worst thing that could happen for legally sanctioned polygamy. The best, because that movement has required a sustained and effective assault on “traditional marriage” arguments that reflected no particular point of view other than that marriage should stay the same because it’s always been the same. In particular, the notion that procreation and child-rearing are the natural justification for marriage has been dealt a terminal injury. We don’t, after all, ban marriage for those who can’t conceive, or annul marriages that don’t result in children, or make couples pinkie swear that they’ll have kids not too long after they get married. We have insisted instead that the institution exists to enshrine in law a special kind of long-term commitment, and to extend certain essential logistical and legal benefits to those who make that commitment. And rightly so.</p> <div class="story-interrupt format-s pos-right"> <aside class="widget widget-supplement-stories"> <header class="widget-header"> <h2> READ MORE</h2> </header> <div class="widget-content"> <ul class="story-list format-xs"> <li> <article> <figure class="thumb is-photo"> <div class="fig-graphic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/justice-scalia-gay-marriage-ruling-119480.html?ml=m_ms"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/2015/06/26/150626_frank_scalia_ap_630x342.jpg"/></a></div> </figure> <div class="summary"> <header> <p class="category"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/on-the-bench">On The Bench</a></p> <h3> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/justice-scalia-gay-marriage-ruling-119480.html?ml=m_ms">Justice Scalia Is a Homophobe</a></h3> </header> <div class="meta"> <p class="byline">By BARNEY FRANK</p> </div> </div> </article> </li> <li> <article> <figure class="thumb is-photo"> <div class="fig-graphic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/andrew-sullivan-posts-marriage-equality-supreme-court-comes-out-blog-hiding-it-is-accomplished-119476.html?ml=m_ms"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/2015/06/26/20150626_sullivan_gaymarriageessay_ap_630x342.jpg"/></a></div> </figure> <div class="summary"> <header> <p class="category"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/primary-source">Primary Source</a></p> <h3> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/andrew-sullivan-posts-marriage-equality-supreme-court-comes-out-blog-hiding-it-is-accomplished-119476.html?ml=m_ms">It Is Accomplished</a></h3> </header> <div class="meta"> <p class="byline">By ANDREW SULLIVAN</p> </div> </div> </article> </li> <li> <article> <figure class="thumb is-photo"> <div class="fig-graphic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriages-better-than-straight-marriages-119465.html?ml=m_ms"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/2015/06/26/20150626_smith_gaymarriagesbetterstraight_ap_630x342.jpg"/></a></div> </figure> <div class="summary"> <header> <p class="category"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/the-big-idea">The Big Idea</a></p> <h3> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriages-better-than-straight-marriages-119465.html?ml=m_ms">Gay Marriages Are Better Than Straight Ones</a></h3> </header> <div class="meta"> <p class="byline">By EMILY ESFAHANI SMITH</p> </div> </div> </article> </li> </ul> </div> </aside> </div> <p>But the marriage equality movement has been curiously hostile to polygamy, and for a particularly unsatisfying reason: short-term political need. Many conservative opponents of marriage equality have made the slippery slope argument, insisting that same-sex marriages would lead inevitably to further redefinition of what marriage is and means. See, for example, Rick Santorum’s infamous “man on dog” comments, in which he equated the desire of two adult men or women to be married with bestiality. Polygamy has frequently been a part of these slippery slope arguments. Typical of such arguments, the reasons why marriage between more than two partners would be destructive were taken as a given. Many proponents of marriage equality, I’m sorry to say, went along with this evidence-free indictment of polygamous matrimony. They choose to side-step the issue by insisting that gay marriage wouldn’t lead to polygamy. That legally sanctioned polygamy was a fate worth fearing went without saying.</p> <p>To be clear: our lack of legal recognition of group marriages is not the fault of the marriage equality movement. Rather, it’s that the tactics of that movement have made getting to serious discussions of legalized polygamy harder. I say that while recognizing the unprecedented and necessary success of those tactics. I understand the political pragmatism in wanting to hold the line—to not be perceived to be slipping down the slope. To advocate for polygamy during the marriage equality fight may have seemed to confirm the socially conservative narrative, that gay marriage augured a wholesale collapse in traditional values. But times have changed; while work remains to be done, the immediate danger to marriage equality has passed. In 2005, a denial of the right to group marriage stemming from political pragmatism made at least some sense. In 2015, after this ruling, it no longer does.</p> <p>While important legal and practical questions remain unresolved, with the Supreme Court’s ruling and broad public support, marriage equality is here to stay. Soon, it will be time to turn the attention of social liberalism to the next horizon. Given that many of us have argued, to great effect, that deference to tradition is not a legitimate reason to restrict marriage rights to groups that want them, the next step seems clear. We should turn our efforts towards the legal recognition of marriages between more than two partners. It’s time to legalize polygamy.</p> <p align="center">***</p> <p><strong>Conventional arguments</strong> against polygamy fall apart with even a little examination. Appeals to traditional marriage, and the notion that child rearing is the only legitimate justification of legal marriage, have now, I hope, been exposed and discarded by all progressive people. What’s left is a series of jerry-rigged arguments that reflect no coherent moral vision of what marriage is for, and which frequently function as criticisms of traditional marriage as well.</p> <footer class="author-bio"> <p><em>Fredrik deBoer is a writer and academic. He lives in Indiana. </em></p> </footer> </div> <nav class="story-nav"> <div class="story-actions"> <a class="button continue-reading" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469_Page2.html">Continue Reading »</a> </div> <div class="pagination"> <h6>Page:</h6> <ol> <li class="current"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469.html">1</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469_Page2.html">2</a></li> </ol> </div> </nav> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="super opaque-guts"> <div class="super-inner"> <div class="content layout-unequal-extended"> <div class="content-primary"> <section class="content-group story-categories"> <div class="related-categories"> <h6>This story tagged under:</h6> <ul class="related-categories-list"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/politics">Politics</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/gay-marriage">Gay Marriage</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/supreme-court">Supreme Court</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/john-roberts">John Roberts</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/polygamy">Polygamy</a> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <section class="content-group story-credits"> <div class="roll-credits"> <h6>Additional credits:</h6> <p class="credit-photo"><b aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-photo"></b>Lead image by Getty.</p> </div> </section> <section class="content-group more-stories" id="incMagazineStoryTeasebox"> <header class="content-header"> <h1>More from POLITICO Magazine</h1> </header> <ul class="story-list format-xs alt-layout-wider"> <li> <article> <figure class="thumb"> <div class="fig-graphic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/mike-bloomberg-mayor-vs-mogul-119111.html?ml=m_mm"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/2015/06/17/leadbloomberg_365x197.jpg" alt=""/></a> </div> </figure> <div class="summary"> <header> <p class="category"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/the-politico-mag-profile">The POLITICO Mag Profile</a></p> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/mike-bloomberg-mayor-vs-mogul-119111.html?ml=m_mm">The Mayor vs. the Mogul</a></h3> </header> <div class="meta"> <p class="byline"> By LUKE O鈥橞RIEN</p> </div>  </div> </article> </li> <li> <article> <figure class="thumb"> <div class="fig-graphic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/orlando-what-works-119159.html?ml=m_mm"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/2015/06/18/leadorlando_365x197.jpg" alt=""/></a> </div> </figure> <div class="summary"> <header> <p class="category"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/tag/what-works">What Works</a></p> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/orlando-what-works-119159.html?ml=m_mm">Where Dreams Come True</a></h3> </header> <div class="meta"> <p class="byline"> By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN</p> </div>  </div> </article> </li> <li> <article class="sponsored-wrapper"> <figure class="thumb"> <div class="fig-graphic"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://politi.co/1BrgirF?ml=m_mm"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/2015/06/17/jpmc_calloutphoto_june.jpg" alt=""/></a> </div> </figure> <div class="summary"> <header> <p class="category"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://politi.co/1BrgirF">Sponsored Content</a></p> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://politi.co/1BrgirF?ml=m_mm">These Entrepreneurs Can Help Manage Your Money</a></h3> </header>  </div> </article> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="content-group show-comments"> <div class="content-actions"> <a class="button is-large is-full-bleed collapse-toggle view-comments" href="#superComments">View <span data-disqus-identifier="pstory-119469"></span> Comments</a> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="super opaque-guts can-collapse" id="superComments" role="main"> <div class="super-inner"> <div class="content layout-unequal-extended"> <div class="content-primary"> <section class="content-group all-comments"> <div class="comments-embed">  <div id="disqus_thread"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> /* * * CONFIGURATION VARIABLES: EDIT BEFORE PASTING INTO YOUR WEBPAGE * * */ var disqus_config = function () { this.sso = { name: "POLITICO", url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://dyn.politico.com/login/?disqus=1", logout: "https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://dyn.politico.com/login/?logout=1", button: "https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/design/logo/disqus-sso-login-button.png" }; var _MEMBERDISQUS = ReadCookie('MEMBERDISQUS'); this.page.remote_auth_s3 = decodeURIComponent(_MEMBERDISQUS); this.page.api_key = "RLP03fdpJkHmaKVNP4M3oMQh7LG8jhT4Vg6ZPwmtewLLCJGptBnRKumAPq5NjUPm"; this.page.disqus_sort = "newest";//best=best rating,hot=popular now,oldest=oldest first }; var disqus_shortname = 'politico'; var disqus_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469.html"; var disqus_title = "It鈥檚 Time to Legalize Polygamy"; var disqus_identifier = 'pstory-209563'; var disqus_per_page = 10; /* * * DON'T EDIT BELOW THIS LINE * * */ (function() { var dsq = document.createElement('script'); dsq.type = 'text/javascript'; dsq.async = true; dsq.src = '//' + disqus_shortname + '.disqus.com/embed.js'; (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(dsq); })(); </script> <noscript>Please enable JavaScript to view the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://disqus.com/?ref_noscript">comments powered by Disqus.</a></noscript> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://disqus.com/" class="dsq-brlink">comments powered by <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span></a>  </div> </section> </div> <div class="content-secondary"> <div class="ad"> <div class="ad-slot flex format-vertical" id="magazine-story_x02"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="global-footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="global-footer-inner"> <nav class="footer-group"> <ul class="footer-nav" role="navigation"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/index.html#superLatest">Our Latest</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/newsletter">Weekly Newsletter</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/table-of-contents-archive">Print Archive</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/archive">Web Archive</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/aboutus">About Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/write-for-us">Write For Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine/frequently-asked-questions">FAQ</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="footer-group"> <div class="menu reveal-at-large reveal-at-extra"> <h5 class="menu-toggle">POLITICO Links</h5> <div class="menu-content"> <div class="additional-links"> <nav class="additional-nav additional-news" role="navigation"> <h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/?ml=fo">News</a></h6> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/?ml=fo">POLITICO Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/magazine?ml=fo">Magazine</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/2014-election/results/map/senate/#.VD_DDvnF-So?ml=fo">Elections</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/congress?ml=fo">Congress</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/multimedia/?ml=fo">Video</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/https://www.politicopro.com/">POLITICO Pro</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://capitalnewyork.com/">Capital New York</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/events/?ml=fo">Events</a></li> </ul></nav> <nav class="additional-nav additional-blogscolumnscartoons" role="navigation"> <h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/?ml=fo">Blogs, Columns & Cartoons</a></h6> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/pages/simon-says/?ml=fo">Roger Simon</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/blogs/media?ml=fo">Dylan Byers</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/?ml=fo">Josh Gerstein</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/pages/kgbfile?ml=fo">The KGB File</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/tag/rich-lowry?ml=fo">Rich Lowry</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/wuerker/?ml=fo">Matt Wuerker</a></li> </ul></nav> <nav class="additional-nav additional-tipsheets" role="navigation"> <h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/tipsheets?ml=fo">Tipsheets</a></h6> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/2016blast/?ml=fo">The 2016 Blast </a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/playbook?ml=fo">Playbook</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/huddle/?ml=fo">Huddle</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/p/magazine/newsletter/?ml=fo">The Friday Cover</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/politicoinfluence/?ml=fo">Influence</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningagriculture/?ml=fo">Morning Agriculture</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningcybersecurity/?ml=fo">Morning Cybersecurity</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningdefense/?ml=fo">Morning Defense</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningeducation/?ml=fo">Morning Education</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningehealth/?ml=fo">Morning eHealth</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningenergy/?ml=fo">Morning Energy</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningmoney/?ml=fo">Morning Money</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningscore/?ml=fo">Morning Score</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningshift?ml=fo">Morning Shift</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningtax/?ml=fo">Morning Tax</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningtech/?ml=fo">Morning Tech</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningtrade?ml=fo">Morning Trade</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/morningtransportation/?ml=fo">Morning Transportation</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/politicopulse/?ml=fo">Pulse</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/prescriptionpulse/?ml=fo">Prescription Pulse</a></li> </ul></nav> <nav class="additional-nav additional-policy" role="navigation"> <h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politicopro.com/">Policy</a></h6> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/agriculture/?ml=fo">Agriculture</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/https://www.politicopro.com/campaigns/">Campaigns</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/cybersecurity/?ml=fo">Cybersecurity</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/defense/?ml=fo">Defense</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/education/?ml=fo">Education</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/ehealth/?ml=fo">eHealth</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/energy/?ml=fo">Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/money/?ml=fo">Finance</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/healthcare/?ml=fo">Health Care</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/labor/?ml=fo">Labor & Employment</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/technology/?ml=fo">Technology</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/trade/?ml=fo">Trade</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/transportation/?ml=fo">Transportation & Infrastructure</a></li> </ul></nav> <nav class="additional-nav additional-more double" role="navigation"> <h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/?ml=fo">More Info</a></h6> <ul class="first"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/about/?ml=fo">About Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/about/advertising/?ml=fo">Advertising</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://dyn.politico.com/login/?ml=fo">Breaking News Alerts</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/Launch.aspx?bypass=true&PBID=74262970-aa07-44b3-80c8-21fa8a8ac376">Digital Edition</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/employment/?ml=fo">Employment</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/faq/?ml=fo">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/aboutus/feedback.html?ml=fo">Feedback</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/headlines/?ml=fo">Headlines</a></li> </ul><ul class="last"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/gallery/?ml=fo">Photos</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.powerjobs.com/">POWERJobs</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/about/press/blog/?ml=fo">Press</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://dyn.politico.com/login/?ml=fo">Register</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/rss/?ml=fo">RSS/Widgets</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/sitemap/?ml=fo">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.cafepress.com/thepolitico">Store</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/subscriptions/?ml=fo">Subscriptions</a></li> </ul></nav>  </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-group footer-legal"> <p class="copyright">© 2015 POLITICO LLC</p> <ul class="legal-links"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/termsofservice/">Terms of Service</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://www.politico.com/privacy/">Privacy Policy</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624im_/http://images.politico.com/global/v2/shadowright.gif" width="0" height="0" alt=""/> </footer> </div> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://www.politico.com/js/magazine/plugins.min.js"></script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://www.politico.com/js/magazine/main.min.js"></script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://www.politico.com/js/magazine/magazine.js"></script>    <script type="text/javascript"> var quantSegs=""; function qc_callback(result) { for (var i = 0; i < result.segments.length; i++) { quantSegs += 'qcseg=' + result.segments[i].id + ';'; } } </script>  <script type="text/javascript"> var pubId=27180; var pixId=41; </script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://ads.pubmatic.com/AdServer/js/universalpixel.js" type="text/javascript"> </script>    <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://tcr.tynt.com/javascripts/Tracer.js?user=bKDyiUp9mr3OhNab7jrHcU&s=22"></script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>   <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/http://www.politico.com/omtr_code.js?v=8&ver=10"></script> <script type="text/javascript"></script>    <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config={}; /** CONFIGURATION START **/ _sf_async_config.authors = "Fredrik deBoer"; _sf_async_config.uid = "33430"; _sf_async_config.path = "/magazine/story/2015/06/gay-marriage-decision-polygamy-119469.html"; _sf_async_config.domain = "politico.com"; _sf_async_config.sections = "magazine"; /** CONFIGURATION END **/ (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement("script"); e.setAttribute("language", "javascript"); e.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript"); e.setAttribute("src", (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624/http://static.chartbeat.com/") + "js/chartbeat.js"); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != "function") ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627094624js_/https://tags.crwdcntrl.net/c/2641/cc.js?ns=_cc2641" id="LOTCC_2641"></script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">_cc2641.bcp();</script>  <script type="text/javascript"> setCookie("ar_pstory119469",true,3); </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

It鈥檚 Time to Legalize Polygamy - Fredrik deBoer - POLITICO Magazine