Does reality TV imitate life or does life imitate reality TV? In the case of Sister Wives, it looks like life may at least be influenced by reality TV: A federal judge ruled that Kody Brown and his family are allowed to sue over the constitutionality of Utah's bigamy law.
Whoa! Is it just me, or is that a pretty huge deal? What started out as a guilty pleasure weekly drama documenting the ups and downs of life in a polygamist household(s) is now potentially powerful enough to make a change in legislation.
Of course the Browns aren't merely speaking for themselves; they represent a demographic we hadn't heard much about until fairly recently.
So maybe it's more about reality TV giving people a voice, particularly those who, for whatever reason, have remained largely silent. (And no, I'm not talking about young tanning addicts with questionable taste. They've always been plenty loud.)
What's ironic is that the Browns have only ended up fighting for their beliefs because they're being forced to fight back. Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn only sued after Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Buhman threatened to prosecute them for practicing polygamy. He never did, but U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups doesn't care. In his ruling, he wrote:
The entirety of actions by the Utah County prosecutors tend to show either an ill-conceived public-relations campaign to showboat their own authority and/or harass the Browns and the polygamist community at large, or to assure the public that they intended to carry out their public obligations and prosecute violations of the law.
So not only is Judge Waddoups taking the Browns seriously, he's also treating them sympathetically. Does this reception have anything to do with the family's status as reality TV stars? We feel like we know the Browns personally -- it's harder to judge a friend or acquaintance than a random name without a face.
Whatever the case, it will definitely be interesting to see which way this lawsuit goes. And whether there are more suits like it in the future ...
Do you think polygamy laws really will change because of Sister Wives?
Image via TLC
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 47
The government doesn't belong in people bedroom or bedrooms. Plain and simple.
Making it legal will also HELP the young girls being victimized. They will have to submit id to get married so no more under ages girls being forced.
And the girls family or friends who are still forced just to do the religious ceremony part, not legally on paper will feel more free to come forward if they aren't under the threat of being prosecuted for being in polygamy.
Im on the fence. What about, for instance, Cody's employer. Although he would be able to count the other wives as dependants, he could technically count all the children as dependants and include them on his health insurance. Without polygamy its VERY highly unlikely that someone is going to have 20+ healthcare dependants. Details....
I agree with yayheadstart on this one !
I am of the thought that if it is consenting adults who would like to enter into a plural marriage or same sex marriage or heterosexula marriage it is thier descision. Live and let live when it comes to something like who marries who. We are all grown ups and can decide who we love enough to marry and how many of them there are.
I hope so.
I'm sure the laws will change. A lot of the laws were made a long time ago. I don't see anything wrong with what they are doing or with how they are living .It is not for me but they seem happy and they are not hurting anyone. I don't think they should be punished for it.
I think they should sue and win! If we are giving gay people the right to be married then marriage equality should go for polygamy as well!!! Plain and simple!
I really really hope they do. There are many families that believe in this kind of thing. Who am I, who is anyone to try to tell someone else what they should believe in. While I would never practice polygamy, I wont judge someone that does. Thats for them to decide, as a, grown consenting adult.