Same-Sex Marriage and the Logical March Toward Polygamy
Does the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States mean that polygamy also will be legalized? Probably not immediately. But probably eventually.
Historically and culturally, same-sex marriage and polygamy are distinct. For example, historically no nation on earth allowed same-sex couples to marry before the year 2001, when a Danish law allowing same-sex marriage took effect. Today (2017), a total of only twenty-three (23) nations have legalized same-sex marriage. That amounts to less than twelve percent (12%) of the 193 sovereign nations in the world that permit same-sex couples to marry.
On the other hand, historically polygamy was widely practiced in many societies. One ethnographic study estimates that nearly half of all known societies in human history regularly permitted polygamous marriage and many others allowed polygamy episodically or for certain sub-groups.
Today It is reported that twenty-six (26) African nations and twenty-two (22) Asian nations still permit polygamous marriage. Some other nations allow certain groups (such as Muslims or members of some indigenous cultures) to practice polygamy. Thus, more than twice as many nations permit polygamous marriage as permit same-sex marriages.
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Source URL:
http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/lynn-wardle/same-sex-marriage-and-logical-march-toward-polygamy
