It has begun: Polygamous Montana trio applies for wedding license
Redefining marriage is a slippery slope.
A man in Montana has applied for a marriage license to legally wed wife number two, saying he was “inspired by the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage last week.”
Nathan Collier and his wives Victoria and Christine applied at the Yellowstone County Courthouse in Billings on Tuesday in an attempt to legitimize their polygamous marriage. Montana, like all 50 states, outlaws bigamy – holding multiple marriage licenses – but Collier said he plans to sue if the application is denied.
“It’s about marriage equality,” Collier told The Associated Press Wednesday. “You can’t have this without polygamy.”
The clerk denied the marriage license request but said they would consult the county attorney.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday made gay marriages legal nationwide. Chief Justice John Roberts said in his dissent that people in polygamous relationships could make the same legal argument that not having the opportunity to marry disrespects and subordinates them.
Collier has sent a request to the ACLU to represent him in a possible lawsuit.
The co-founder of a polygamist advocacy group called Principle Voices said she had not heard of the application. Anne Wilde said that most polygamists don’t want the right to marry as much as they want polygamy decriminalized.
“Ninety percent or more of the fundamentalist Mormons don’t want it legalized, they want it decriminalized,” Wilde said.
http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/polygamists-apply-marriage-license-montana