Anti-polygamy law compared to former prohibition on homosexuality

In court yesterday, the amicus curiae completed his arguments in the polygamy reference.

James Keller wrote in the Globe & Mail:

Canada’s anti-polygamy law is akin to the long-abandoned criminal prohibition on homosexuality, fuelling social stigma while forcing people in honest, committed relationships to live in shame, says a lawyer arguing the law should be struck down.

George Macintosh said removing polygamy from the Criminal Code would have the same positive effect as the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969.

“In this sense, [the anti-polygamy law] is precisely the same as the law against homosexual sex, which was struck down in Canada 42 years ago,” Mr. Macintosh said Tuesday during his final arguments at a landmark B.C. court case.

“Only then could gays and lesbians begin to live a life with dignity.”

Both sides of the case have cited the history of gay rights and same-sex marriage to argue their points. At least one group supporting the law has said the same-sex marriage debate settled questions surrounding the definition of marriage.

Challengers, including Mr. Macintosh, have said court cases linked to gay rights opened to door to change that definition further.

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