Letter: Polygamy can't be compared to ..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

For the letter writers who think that gay marriage and polygamy compare:

There is a lot of difference between gay marriage and polygamy. Gay marriage affects two people and polygamy affects many people and has been shown to cause many more problems for women, children and some "lost boys." It often treats women as second-class citizens.

It is handled in a different court and has been recently "decriminalized" if those practicing it don't break other laws, but in some large groups there have been underage and forced marriages and rape of young girls. Boys have been sent off with no home because the older men want to have lots of women and young girls for themselves to marry.

For women of legal age who want it and if everyone keeps the law and doesn't abuse welfare, it might be OK. But those are few, and I don't believe it will ever become a popular lifestyle.

Kim Summers

Salt Lake City

Letter: Polygamy can't be compared to gay marriage