Michael Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan, wrote in an op-ed piece from the Ironton Tribune, “This fight over Proposition 8 (the California initiative of 2008 to recognize marriage as being solely between a man and woman) isn’t just about saying it should be legal in the eyes of government for two people of the same sex to get married in California. It’s ultimately about changing the culture of the entire country.”He couldn’t be more right.
In the past, and even now conservatives, in general, have fought against the legalization of same-sex marriage, saying that it is immoral, unnatural and not in the best interests of America. Conservatives, like Sen. Rick Santorum have also claimed that same-sex marriage will inevitably lead to the legalization of other immoral and unnatural unions such as polygamy.
Well, they were right on target. Though small in number, Americans are emerging in support of polygamy.
Jillian Keenan of Slate Magazine wrote a piece April 15 entitled “Legalize Polygamy! No. I am not kidding.” In the article, Keenan argued that legalizing polygamy is the “constitutional, feminist, and sex-positive choice.” She added that polygamy would “help protect, empower and strengthen women, children and families.”
Additionally, Keenan pointed out that such freedom, which is being extended to same-sex couples, must be extended to everyone, even polygamists.
“Though polygamists are a minority — a tiny minority, in fact — freedom has no value unless it extends to even the smallest and most marginalized groups among us,” wrote Keenan. “So let’s fight for marriage equality until it extends to every same-sex couple in the United States — and then let’s keep fighting. We’re not done yet.”
We’ve heard this refrain before from liberals, as it was being used to defend same-sex marriage. Now, we have Keenan bringing in the exact same argument to defend polygamy. Who are the liberals to refuse?
This is not to say that proponents of same-sex marriage necessarily want to join the cause for polygamy. However, with their acceptance of the redefinition of marriage, can they morally oppose other forms of “marriage?”
After all, there is a slowly changing attitude toward polygamy. According to a 2009 Gallup poll, 91 percent of Americans were morally opposed to polygamy. This percentage has since dropped to 89 percent in 2012.
Isn’t it time to stop discriminating against polygamists? Where are the liberals on this?
Same-sex marriage may not directly lead to other forms of “marriage,” but it is obvious that redefinition of such a sacred institution does. If we do not hold ourselves to a moral standard and stick to it, how can we morally stand against polygamy? If we throw out the standard for marriage, how can we throw out others without being hypocritical?
A line cannot be drawn unless there is something with which to back it up. Same-sex marriage proponents do not have any backing, morally or otherwise, to refuse passage for legalizing polygamist lifestyles.
Fellow Americans, acceptance of immorality only leads to further immorality. What we are deciding today is changing our culture, and not for the better. I urge you to be careful, and choose America’s path wisely.
Andrew Jenson can be reached at [email protected]