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Until 1963, interracial marriages were illegal in Utah. Residents who suffered chronic epileptic seizures and were not sterilized also were barred from marrying in the state.
And, until 1993, anyone who had syphilis, gonorrhea or HIV could not make that walk down the aisle.
Now, in 2005, three Utahns who want to unite as husband, wife and wife say their preferred form of marriage also should be allowed.
They are asking the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a federal judge's rejection of their challenge to state prohibitions against bigamy and polygamy.
And Kansas takes a collective sigh of relief as they're temporarily no longer the most backward-looking state in the union.
And, until 1993, anyone who had syphilis, gonorrhea or HIV could not make that walk down the aisle.
Now, in 2005, three Utahns who want to unite as husband, wife and wife say their preferred form of marriage also should be allowed.
They are asking the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a federal judge's rejection of their challenge to state prohibitions against bigamy and polygamy.
And Kansas takes a collective sigh of relief as they're temporarily no longer the most backward-looking state in the union.
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From: (Anonymous)
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There is an understanding that if gay marriage is not allowed and generally accepted, adult consenting polygamy doesn't stand chance. For this reason, it's not unheard of for poly adults to work alongside gay rights people in efforts to get gay marriage legalized. That's why you'll find more awareness and acceptancy of polys in the gay community.
When religious rights icons argue that accepting gay marriage might lead to "polygamy, legalized child abuse, and bestiality," they ironically have it one third right. Generally speaking, those in favor of allowing modern polygamy (aka polyamory) draw a hard red line for full knowing consent. And they argue that sticking to this better would eliminate problems with Mormon old-style polygamy, since it usually involves marriage to underage women who don't understand what they've agreed to or that they can get out.
Realistically speaking, it would be harder to prosecute Mormon old-style polygamy if any type of polygamy were allowed. Instead of prosecution, the battle would be moved to the arena of awareness and social help in the form of domestic shelters and so forth. I'm not really sure whether either method is particularly effective, since these folks don't socialize much.