Inside Story

Could polygamy be legalised in the US?

Recent legalisation of gay marriage triggers debate on whether people can tie the knot with multiple partners.

Gay couples celebrated when the US Supreme Court recently legalised same-sex marriage.

That ruling has triggered a debate on whether the institution of marriage can be redefined to allow the marrying of multiple partners.

A recent Gallup poll shows that polygamy has been gaining acceptance over the last decade – from five percent in 2006 to 16 percent today.

The TV show Sister Wives is being credited with helping to normalise the idea of polygamy to the average American.

So, could polygamy be next? And what are the legal challenges?

Presenter: Dareen Abughaida

Guests:

Freddie Deboer – author of It’s Time to Legalize Polygamy

Stephen Macedo – author of Just Married: Same-Sex Couples, Monogamy and the Future of Marriage

Andy Izenson – Associate Attorney at the firm Diana Adams Law & Mediation.