Will any states pass laws legalizing Polygamy?

[DC Al Fine]

Link, I think that's a fair point about whether polygamy is a good idea, but public opinion often doesn't match up with good policy. I think the way people view marriage nowadays means we'll probably get polygamy if it got a decent lobby behind it.

Regardless of what public opinion is initially you will start to hear the horror stories out of polygamous marriages and there will be backpedaling.  With gay marriage what is the downside?  Fewer single guys cruising Turkish bathhouses?  Who is complaining about that?

You can't outlaw homosexuality.  So a better arrangement is homosexual men settling into long term monogamous relationships.  There is a broader societal good that comes from that.

People are simply not ready to deal with the fallout of polygamy.  Guys on this forum think it is a fat middle age dude with two 23 year olds engaging in kinky sex.  Unfortunately reality is even worse than that... far, far, worse.

Hence my point. I get where you're coming from though.

[Fritz]

You can't outlaw homosexuality.

Could someone let Russia know?

[badgate]

I'VE SEEN A FULL SEASON OF BIG LOVE SO I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

You can't outlaw homosexuality.

Could someone let Russia know?

Our "ally" Saudi Arabia has it punishable by death.
Interestingly, it's legal to have same sex sexual activity in the Vatican.

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

I don't think you can equate polygamy with SSM in that polygamy is indisputably a lifestyle choice (particularly when done for religion reasons; one's religion is most certainly a choice), not an innate personal characteristic.

I would not support legalizing polygamy, though I do think it ought to be decriminalized. If there's a Warren Jeffs type situation going on, our justice system would prosecute those people for child abuse, sexual abuse and the like - those are the problems, the polygamy itself is not. I don't think the simple fact that people are in a polygamous relationship (i.e. the family from Sister Wives) ought to be grounds for legal action against them.

[Beet]

This is another one of those trends I absolutely dread but am dead certain is a steam roller coming down the pike, as I've been saying for years.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

We have de facto legalization now.  Heck, unless you have laws against cohabitation being enforced, I fail to see how one can possibly criminalize polygamy.  However, the laws against bigamy (i.e., being in two separate legally recognized marriages at the same time) are going to remain on the books and I don't see legal recognition of polygamy coming about any time this half century.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

No.  Polygamy is far more traditional and "natural" than gay marriage but the interesting thing is gay marriage actually serves a useful purpose in modern society, where as polygamy does not.  Outlawing polygamy is like outlawing sex with children (I said children not minors).  If anyone can point to a smooth well run society where polygamy exists and women's rights are universally respected I would love to see it.

Gay marriage is useful and has no downside... except for gay people who realize too late marriage is not the end all be all.

Please point out a smooth well run society with any form of marriage where women's rights are universally respect first.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

You can't outlaw homosexuality.

Could someone let Russia know?

Homosexuality is legal in Russia.

[© tweed]

You can't outlaw homosexuality.

Could someone let Russia know?

Homosexuality is legal in Russia.

as is gay sex, which wasn't legal everywhere in the USA until 2003.

[courts]

No.  For one thing, the government will always have marriage laws.  The public law system of marriage allows convenient legal arrangement of shared finances, benefits and children.  Theoretically, there could be a private law analog, but it would be needlessly complicated and generally unworkable.  "Government out of the marriage business" is just a meaningless cliche.  

As for polygamy, it will be recognized legally, if and only if, people think polygamy is morally and socially acceptable.  That's how gay marriage came to become accepted.  People understood the undeniable truth that homosexuality is not morally wrong and relationships between same-sex couples should be accepted.  Polygamist groups are unlikely to succeed in that way.  Most obviously because polygamy is not a sexual orientation.  Polygamists aren't born, they're taught to support that lifestyle in a few tiny enclaves.  

polyamory is very much an orientation

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

You can't outlaw homosexuality.

Could someone let Russia know?

Never mind Russia. Someone should let Ken Cuccinelli know.