If you support gay marriage, do you have to support polygamy?

Question

In both cases it is a contract established between consenting adults. I have this debate with friends (I support "gay marriage," although I am straight) who tell me: "if you support the right of homosexuals to get married, you must support the right of a man to have many wives, otherwise you are an hypocrite."

Thank you for the answers. I'm sort of looking for ammunition to shut them up. Although I have nothing against truly consensual polyamori unions, I don't like the fact that even adult women can be manipulated in a religious setting to opt for polygyny.

Although at that point the debate becomes: "who are you to say whether they are giving informed consent or not? are you in those women's heads?"

Answer 1

I think the reason many do not support polygamy is because historically it has been men who marry girls - not woman and the girls do not have a choice in the matter.

Please do a little research on polygamy. Many of the polygamist marriages have been very abusive to women, children, or the spouse had no clue as to the other wives.

If polygamy was like "Big Love" (the HBO series) I don't think it would be horrible. However, marriage should be between consenting adults - not children or women without choice.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Certainly not. It's like comparing apples and oranges!

Gay marriage is completely different from polygamy; one is marriage between two people, one is between more than two! I don't see how supporting one but not the other makes you a hypocrite. The only way you could be hypocritical would be, say, if you said that two men could get married, but not two women, or something like that, because then you're rejecting one thing even though both are of the same principle. But there's a different principle between gay marriage and polygamy.

Please go back to your friends with this information. I'd be interested in hearing their rebuttal.

Personally, I do think people should have the right to both gay marriage and polygamy, but I know that to support one doesn't mean you have to support the other!

Answer 3

I do, actually. And I think that women should have the right to have more than one husband. I don't support it if it's some weird religion or cult thing, or if it goes against the will of someone involved. But imagine that there are two bi-sexual men and one straight woman, and they all really are in love with each other. Sure, let them get married. I don't see what the big deal is.
The problem with polygamy usually is that it's not consensual. Those types should not be allowed.
But I don't think you're a hypocrite if you support gay marriage but not polygamy.

Answer 4

The two have nothing to do with each other.
Gay marriage is the agreement, as with a man and woman, to stay loyal to each other forsaking all others.
Polygamy, is the inability of a man to stay faithful to one wife or one woman, and uses polygamy as an excuse to have his cake and eat it too!
'..you must support the right of a man to have many wives, otherwise you are an hypocrite..'
This is an exhausted and flippant response from someone who does not agree with gay marriage. They can give no real reasons why gay marriage should not be allowed to happen, so they attack with idiotic statements.
A bit like children who are having a battle of words and when one of them becomes flustered or frustrated they can say nothing but...'You are stupid' lol lol

Hmm...kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Good Luck

Answer 5

i do no longer help polygamy mutually as I do help gay marriage. I do see the reasoning in the back of equating the two. even though, my reasons for opposing it are: one million) Polygamy as practiced interior the international right this moment is a spiritual association wherein women persons are relegated to the situation of chattel. If i'd desire to be persuaded that girls persons would enter into this association without duress, i'd desire to alter on it. 2) Human nature such because it relatively is is confusing sufficient to reconcile 2 human beings's affairs for any length of time. Introducing different companions would create a criminal nightmare. and that i'm in basic terms in contact on the subject of the regulation - no longer the religious factor in any respect. My opposition isn't extraordinarily sturdy in this. I nevertheless oppose it through fact i do no longer see it as functional.

Answer 6

I'm not either for or against polygamy. It is something that doesn't pertain to me, so it really doesn't matter much. But I believe that 2 people should have the right to love each other unconditionally, and that allows for same sex marriages

I don't see why 2 people in a loving and committed relationship should be extended to 3 or more.

Answer 7

No, you don't have to support Polygamy.
As it is in this country(US) there are no provisions set up to deal with the legal ramifications of polygamy not to mention that having "secret" wives/families opens many more legal issues(who are the heirs to the estate, etcetera)....
Your friends are attempting a general straw man attack issue to support their intolerance.
Same-sex marriages are not even close to polygamy.

Answer 8

Your friends don't seem to have a good reason to not support gay marriage, you can have a bad reason to not support polygamy. I don't understand why people don't though if it is consentual, in the Bible all the men had a ton of wives.

Answer 9

Those who oppose gay marriage by bringing up the subject of polygamy are grasping at straws. Broken straws.

One issue has NOTHING to do with the other.

Answer 10

NO! the fact is that polygamy is illegal for reasons having to do with the fact that it takes away basic human rights, if gay mairrage were allowed, that would be allowing someone access to their rights, not taking them away. polygay only helps one person, while gay mairrage helps bot those involved in the relationship!