As citizens of perhaps the greatest nation on earth, Americans enjoy freedoms, rights, and privileges that many elsewhere only envy. For one, law-abiding American citizens enjoy legal backing to own guns despite its inherent challenges, a right that citizens of most other equally developed and sophisticated nations do not enjoy. The press in America is also one of the freest, helping to keep the government and the governed in check. That’s not all.
With a transgender population of over 1.6 million, America also leads the world in offering protection against discrimination based on gender. In fact, so strong is this protection that children who cannot legally own a license, drink alcohol or even enter a bar can decide to undergo sex reassignment surgery, in some cases without their parent’s consent or against their express will.
It is therefore quite baffling that in this nest of freedoms, consenting adults cannot legally enter into a polygamous marriage in America.
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President Chester A. Arthur proscribed polygamy in America by signing the Edmunds Act 1882. The act not only reinforced the 1862 Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act but also made the offense of unlawful cohabitation much easier to prove than polygamy misdemeanor and made it illegal for polygamists or cohabitants to vote, hold public office, or serve on juries in federal territories. There are also laws against polygamy in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Guam.
Mixed-martial artist and former five-time world champion, Jake Shields provoked a debate about polygamy in America in a tweet on May 11.
Why is polygamy illegal in the US?
We are a free country so shouldn't consenting adults able to make their own choices as long as others aren't harmed?
I can chop my dick off and marry a man but its a crime to have two wives
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) May 11, 2023
As expected, many tweeps argued for and against the idea.
I’ve always thought the same.
Not a big believer in it but don’t think it should be illegal.
— Daniel H (@rottizelt) May 11, 2023
I've wondered that one too.
Consenting adults, and enough sense to consent…why is this not legal?
— LinneaBlue (@LinneaBlu) May 11, 2023
I could get twice as much cooking done with sister wives
— Jessie Rose (@JessieRoseGarre) May 11, 2023
I maintain that both polygamy and polyandry should be permissible. Granted, it may introduce complexities, particularly when it comes to matters of inheritance and property division, but these challenges shouldn't obstruct the path to personal freedom and the ability to structure…
— Michael White (@WhiteMGallery) May 12, 2023
Just as everything else in this country seems to be controlled by tax status, (religion, marriage, business, etc) I’d imagine that may have some implications as well.
— Prema Ball (@human_9974) May 11, 2023
While the content of Shields’ tweet could come off as transphobic to some people, it is indeed worrisome that polygamy is outlawed while same-sex marriage is legal in the world’s freest nation.
Should polygamy be so frowned upon when evidence abounds that many of those that keep up the ruse of monogamy secretly engage in extramarital affairs? Some of the most popular politicians, billionaires, entertainers and sportspeople in America today have been caught in this web of lies. Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, Kevin Hart, among others, come to mind. According to the Micklin Law Group, temptation and infidelity constitute major reasons for soaring celebrity divorces. Doesn’t this suggest, even if not conclusively, that monogamy in humans is unnatural? While it is trite that polygamy cannot eradicate infidelity, it would be foolhardy of anyone to think it cannot help in reducing it.
It is therefore unfortunate that when not being ‘persecuted’ by the state, pro-polygamy groups in America are demonized in the media. One example that easily comes to mind is the Kingston Group, a Utah-based polygamist sect.
Despite the onslaught on polygamy from various angles, there are groups, such as Principle Voices, who are working assiduously to bridge the gap “between two worlds that inherently distrust each other”.
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