OK, CNN International has a documentary on polygamy around the world while I’m writing.

But reading this was pretty hilarious. The automatic repudiation of the very thought of gays and lesbians sharing the now-publicly-unpopular institution of polygamy with straight polygamists is pretty obvious, particularly in the heavy usage of the word "homosexual" (nowadays more used by conservative anti-LGBT activists) throughout.

But then I wonder, if this repudiation and the accompanying ill-will is unfounded upon reason, then has the idea of gay polyandry or lesbian polygyny been explored yet?

I mean, on the cusp of the California vote on Proposition 8, we look back at the constant assertion by conservative religious organizations that same-sex marriage would be a slippery slope that would lead in the future towards state recognition of polygamy, paedophilia, incest, necrophilia and bestiality, among other such sexual ills.

But forsaking those last four (too hot to handle, plus the whole issue of forceful sex that makes them all akin to rape as a violation of individual civil rights), I seriously want to look into the idea of same-sex polygamy on an investigative basis.

I’m certain that (and I’ve actually talked to a few people) there are examples of same-sex open marriages/relationships, which means that, just like straight open marriages/relationships, they respect the inevitability that one or both of the partners in a monogamous relationship will most likely engage in extramarital sexual affairs without necessarily entailing infidelity.

So OK, open marriages exist in both camps, and they often have to deal with the same issues: public acceptance and intramarital jealousy.

But suppose that polygamy wasn’t banned in the United States, but same-sex marriage was. How would same-sex polygamy (or same-sex polyfidelity) look or work? There wouldn’t be any need for intentional reproductive sex as reproduction would not result out of same-sex relationships, and the issue of child adoption by a same-sex polygamist relationship would have several unique distinctions from the issue of negotiating the parental oversight over chidren born into a heterosexual polygamist relationship, as the particular partners in the same-sex relationship would not have the inherent jealous guardianship over adopted children and would have to negotiate any adoption and resulting guardianship with the other participants in the same-sex relationship on a collective basis. This comparative lack of parental jealousy through adoption of outside-born children may also preclude the threat of incest-originated offspring which are also often associated with heterosexual polygamous relationships.

But then the issue of age difference and equality between partners will also come to the fore, as it has with the partners in straight polygamous relationships. The assumption (not discredited) is that partners of younger age will also be more vulnerable and impressionable; as domestic abuse and violence are both common in both same-sex and different-sex relationships, it may only be magnified in a same-sex polygamous relationship between partners, with violence between partners of wider age difference. Domestic abuse and violence between partners are also common, and often nearly synonymous, with heterosexual polygynous (one man, many women) relationships, particular those with younger partners.

Finally, what kind of role would religion and spirituality play in the same-sex polygamous relationship? As most established religious congregations, given the fertility-oriented theologies which they wield with ferocity, would actively shun and seek to repress evidence of such a relationship, how would a religious experience be melded by the partners into their relationship and the accompanying traditions and caprices?

The idea of same-sex polygamy, with many men wedded together in one relationship and many women wedded together in another, seems highly interesting, with a few possible advantages above, and a few disadvantages shared with, their heterosexual counterparts. I reiterate that more of this subject should be researched in the academic community, especially by both feminist and queer theorists.

PS: I just found out that Celeste West wrote a book entitled Lesbian Polyfidelity several decades ago, and that Lana Tibbetts wrote a feminist, LGBT-targeted essay on polyfidelity back in 2001.

EDIT 03/28/09: Had to update the link to Tibbetts’ paper since it has moved to a new URL from http://www.prairienet.org/~star/polypaper.html. Hat tip to starstraf .