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QUEERLY BELOVED Next frontier? Polygamists demand multi-sex marriage Activists: New Hampshire plan embeds bigotry into state law Posted: June 05, 2009 10:30 pm Eastern By Bob Unruh
A polygamy advocacy organization says the New Hampshire law that is intended to assure "equal access to marriage" for all instead specifically embeds in state statutes bigotry against polygamists.
According to a statement posted on the Pro-Polygamy website, when on Wednesday New Hampshire "became the sixth U.S. State to codify the legal construction of same sex marriage," it was hailed by homosexuals as a "civil rights victory." "Declaring that the new law advances fairness and equality for all, they proclaimed that New Hampshire had supposedly 'ended discrimination' for everyone," the statement said. "But the law did no such thing. Rather, it intentionally 'discriminates' against consenting adult polygamists – indeed, on purpose," the organization said. The fact that polygamists, and indeed those with other sexual proclivities, would use the same "civil rights" and "equality" arguments forwarded by homosexuals seeking "marriage" rights has been predicted for years. (Story continues below) "Polygamists, and those who have a polygamous 'orientation,' have been 'singled out' by these provisions for much more severe treatment than merely denial of favored status... The court's disposition today suggests that these provisions are unconstitutional; and that polygamy must be permitted in these states... – unless, of course, polygamists for some reason have fewer constitutional rights than homosexuals," Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in 1996. That came in a U.S. Supreme Court opinion quashing the decision of Colorado voters who decided there should be a constitutional provision providing, "No Protected Status Based on Homosexual, Lesbian, or Bisexual Orientation." The court majority there decided Colorado voters were guilty of "impermissible targeting" of a "class" of people.
Scalia noted that the same arguments being applied to homosexuals as a class also could be applied to polygamists. Then in 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state laws forbidding homosexuality. The Lawrence vs. Texas case established a "right to privacy" for consenting adults. Once again dissenting, Scalia wrote, "State laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity are likewise sustainable only in light of [a] validation of laws based on moral choices. Every single one of these laws is called into question by today's decision…" "This effectively decrees the end of all morals legislation," Scalia wrote. WND founder and editor Joseph Farah, who has been writing commentary on social issues for years, also cited the 2003 Lawrence ruling in writing: "To say laws about private sexual conduct are unconstitutional, the court, in effect, opened a sexual Pandora's box," he said. "If there is a constitutional right to have homosexual sex, how can one deny there is a constitutional right to group sex? How can one deny there is a constitutional right to consensual incest? How can one deny there is a right to have sex with animals? How can one deny there is a constitutional right to polygamy? "You can't. There is no difference," he wrote. His conclusion was that the court was wrong: "There is no constitutional right to homosexual sex – or any other kind of sex for that matter. The word sex doesn't appear in the Constitution." The issue came up again only a year ago, when the California state Supreme Court ruled the state could not deny the designation of "marriaged" to homosexual couples. That court opinion was tossed out last November by a vote of the people, who defined "marriage" as being between one man and one woman. In a dissent to that court opinion, Associate Justice Marvin R. Baxter cited similar concerns. "The majority … simply does not have the right to erase, then recast, the age-old definition of marriage, as virtually all societies have understood it, in order to satisfy its own contemporary notions of equality and justice. The California Constitution says nothing about the rights of same-sex couples to marry. On the contrary, as the majority concedes, our original Constitution, effective from the moment of statehood, evidenced an assumption that marriage was between partners of the opposite sex," Baxter wrote at the time. Then he issued a warning: "Who can say that, in 10, 15, or 20 years, an activist court might not rely on the majority's analysis to conclude, on the basis of a perceived evolution in community values, that the laws prohibiting polygamous and incestuous marriages were no longer constitutionally justified?" According to the activist Pro-Polygamy, the New Hampshire plan specifically includes discrimination in its wording. It was the sixth state to "act" on homosexual marriage. Several states have voted it in through the legislative process and in several other states officials have simply imposed same-sex "marriage" plans on residents following court opinions, even though state laws have even yet to be changed. The polygamy activists said the new law now affirms the "right" of two individuals to marry. "However, the new law then took the matter further, with intentional 'discrimination.' The new [law] now ends with a newly added anti-polygamy provision," the group said, citing the new statement: "No person shall be allowed to be married to more than one person at any given time." "Same sex marriage supporters had intentionally changed the combined anti-incest and anti-gay-marriage ban into a combined anti-incest and anti-polygamy ban instead. They intentionally re-directed the law to purposely 'discriminate' against consenting adult polygamists - the clearly known bigotry of equating consenting adult polygamy with the biological dysfunction of incest," the group said. "After purposely 'discriminating' against consenting adult polygamists, the new law startlingly then allows for under-aged heterosexual marriage while it bans under-aged same sex marriage," the group said. The state now limits heterosexual marriages to boys 14 and girls 13 and older. But those same-sex "marriages" are limited to those 18 and over. "In truth, therefore, New Hampshire's new gay marriage law does not end 'discrimination' at all. It absolutely does not provide 'equal access to marriage' for all. Rather, New Hampshire's new same sex marriage law intentionally 'discriminates' against consenting adult polygamists," the report said.
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Related offers: "The Gay Agenda: It's Dividing the Family, the Church, and a Nation" "See how Americans and their Constitution have been betrayed by judge-made law" Previous stories: Battle over 'gay' weddings far from over Iowa, Vermont 'marriage' decisions 'aberrations' Traditional-marriage supporters buoyed by arguments Lawmakers: Court should reject voters' decision Allies rally behind Prop 8 in judicial battle California AG attacks own constitution Supremes to review 'gay' lawsuits against Prop. 8 Watch sparks fly as 'gay' activist mob swarms Christians 'Gays' demand endorsement of lifestyle School holds surprise 'Gay' Day for kindergartners School takes 1st-graders to see lesbian teacher wed 'Gay' marriage battle goes to kindergarten 'Bride,' 'groom' can't marry in California County surrenders in same-sex marriage war Counties to Supreme Court on 'gay' marriage: Drop dead 'Gay' rights group to Supremes: Don't let people vote It's voters vs. black robes in November County clerks urged to ignore same-sex marriage ruling 'Gay' marriage ruling to spark lawsuits nationwide Whoa! Marriage laws aren't changed – yet Supremes asked to give voters a chance City clerk suing not to wed 'gays' California battle over same-sex marriage not over Black robes trash traditional marriage California's 'judicial fiat' condemned – by judge Plan pushes for last step in eliminating marriage Court asked to protect 1-man, 1-woman marriage Pro-marriage groups: 'Don't trust courts!' Gov. Arnold 'terminates' man-and-woman marriage plan Gov. Arnold says 'marriage' can be terminated California handing out marriage privileges 'Marriage' to become museum piece Homosexual marriage minces west to California Court will decide if California voters were right Vote or pay us damages, group tells lawmakers 7 more states say no to 'gay marriage' Same-sex rulings will 'echo' across U.S. Senate rejects 'gay marriage' ban California Senate OKs 'gay' marriage Mayor faces trial for same-sex marriages 60% of polled Americans: No homosexual marriage It's 'gay' marriage in Massachusetts Poll: Massachusetts opposes 'gay' marriage 'Gay' marriage ruling's consequences 'dire' 'Gay' marriage ban struck down in Massachusetts Poll suggests backlash on 'gay' issues Court strikes down Texas sodomy law Bob Unruh is a news editor for WorldNetDaily.com.
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