Finally figured out how to put this
Gay marriage and interracial marriage are equivalent. Multiple marriage is not. Here's why.
There are three people, Alex, Chris and Jordan. None has ever been married.
Alex wants to marry Jordan. The state agrees that Alex may do that.
But what if Chris wants to marry Jordan? If Alex is allowed, by what law can you deny Chris the same right that Alex has? Try to answer without naming a protected class.
Now, what if Alex already has married Jordan? The state says that Chris is not allowed to marry Jordan. The reason why is simple: Jordan is already married. Jordan has taken a voluntary action that has legal consequences.
If you say that Alex can't marry Jordan because of who Jordan is - gender, color, age, etc. - then you're discriminating. If you say that Alex can't marry Jordan because of what Jordan has done - already got married - then it's fair game for legislation.
Note that this doesn't say anything about whether gay marriage, interracial marriage or multiple marriage are good things, or what position the state should take with regards to any of them. Simply pointing out that there is a very clear difference between prohibiting marriage on the basis of gender (or race) and prohibiting marriage on the basis that you are already married.
There are three people, Alex, Chris and Jordan. None has ever been married.
Alex wants to marry Jordan. The state agrees that Alex may do that.
But what if Chris wants to marry Jordan? If Alex is allowed, by what law can you deny Chris the same right that Alex has? Try to answer without naming a protected class.
Now, what if Alex already has married Jordan? The state says that Chris is not allowed to marry Jordan. The reason why is simple: Jordan is already married. Jordan has taken a voluntary action that has legal consequences.
If you say that Alex can't marry Jordan because of who Jordan is - gender, color, age, etc. - then you're discriminating. If you say that Alex can't marry Jordan because of what Jordan has done - already got married - then it's fair game for legislation.
Note that this doesn't say anything about whether gay marriage, interracial marriage or multiple marriage are good things, or what position the state should take with regards to any of them. Simply pointing out that there is a very clear difference between prohibiting marriage on the basis of gender (or race) and prohibiting marriage on the basis that you are already married.