Polygamist insists he can marry second wife after Supreme Court ruling
A polygamist in the state of Montana is insisting he should be able to marry a second wife – after the Supreme Court legalised same-sex weddings.
The highest court in the US ruled by 5-4 last month in favour of same-sex marriage, finding that it is a constitutional right and must be recognised in all 50 states.
Following the ruling, a man in Montana who is already married to one woman has filed for a license to marry another – insisting that he should have the same right to do so as gay couples now have.
Sister Wives star Nathan Collier, 46, married his current wife Victoria in 2000 – and is now trying to tie the knot to partner Christine as well.
He told KRTV: “We just want to add legal legitimacy to an already happy, functional, strong, loving family.
“We’re not even asking for acceptance. We’re just asking for tolerance. Let us live our lives together without fear.
“My second wife Christine, who I’m not legally married to, she’s put up with my crap for a lot of years. She deserves legitimacy.”
The Supreme Court ruling expressly does not apply to polygamy, although right-wingers had scaremongered that it would lead to thee-way marriages.
His legal claim is sketchy at best, however. CNN analyst Joey Jackson remarked: “From a legal perspective, it doesn’t fly at all.”
Kenya’s President recently legalised polygamy for straight people – but continues to criminalise homosexuality.
