A Double-Standard's Day in Court

If you live in Canada and notice that the birds seem unusually well-fed in recent years, it's due to the huge can of worms opened by the True North's legalization of gay marriage. Gay marriage opponents in American, Sr. have often asked why, if gay marriage should be legal, is polygamy banned?

For British Columbia lawyer Blair Suffredine, the question is not rhetorical--so much so that he is demanding an answer in court. Suffredine's client, Winson Blackmore, is charged with the crime of polygamy, as he is alleged to have no fewer than 20 wives.

I know what you're all wondering--how can a man with 20 wives even afford a freaking lawyer?

But that's not important, nor is the question of whether Mr. Blackmore is even mentally competent to defend himself, as a man who would even want to have 20 wives is obviously insane, or on the brink of becoming so. Explain to me how 20 wives doesn't just mean 20 times the nagging.

Logically, Mr. Blackmore has an excellent case, as, historically and Biblically, polygamy possesses a legality and legitimacy that same-sex marriage has never had. While the Bible is unequivocal in forbidding any homosexual conduct, it permits (but does not encourage) plural marriage. Polygamy is still practiced in the Middle East (where, incidentally, sodomy continues to be punishable by death), and polyandry in central Asia. (In polyandry, a woman has more than one husband--now that's really insane).

At Hill of Hope, we will attempt to follow this case and see whether Canada will continue to criminalize a Biblically-sanctioned relationship between consenting adults while permitting Godless, immoral relationships between consenting adults.