General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Polymarriage deserves a defense [View all]TM99
(8,352 posts)Polyamory is the type of sexuality and also the type of relationship discussed today. It is not legally recognized therefore it is not marriage at this point. Multiple partners in a relationship may have a spiritual wedding but it is not state sanctioned. Polygamy would be the correct term for a marriage (one that is state sanctioned) that involves more than two people. It can be polygyny or polyandry. You are conflating such religious polygamy as Mormons practiced and some Muslims today with something very different being discussed here.
In the polygamy we are discussing, it could be multiple men or women, straight, gay, or bisexual. It may involve a religious blessing or not but is rather about legal marital rights. It is not attached to a cult or any particular religious movement though some religious subcultures are far more accepting of its reality than others. It is not about abuse or illegal acts of any kind. It is simply about consenting adults and their choices of sexual AND marriage partners.
I would have thought being such a strong advocate of LGBT civil rights as well as marriage rights that you would be the last person I would have expected to wrongly conflate what is being discussed here and why it is now being done so more openly. The landmark SCOTUS case has opened up legal avenues not heretofore available. The OP has provided some excellent links on the reality beyond the conflation, the bigotry, and the misunderstandings.