In an interview on the science in science fiction, novelist William Gibson noted, \u201c[T]he future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet.\u201d\u009d What Gibson meant was that the innovations in science fiction could already be found\u201d\u201dat least in embryonic form\u201d\u201din our current ideas or technology. Much the same could be said about future social and legal norms concerning the institution of marriage\u201d\u201dthey are already here, they\u2019re just not evenly distributed yet.<\/p>\n
A prime example is the social and legal acceptance of polygamous marriage. The legal bulwark against polygamy was the first to go, dismantled by the Supreme Court ruling Lawrence v. Texas. \u201cLiberty presumes an autonomy of self,\u201d\u009d claimed Justice Anthony Kennedy in the majority opinion, \u201cthat includes freedom of thought, belief, expression, and certain intimate conduct.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
As Justice Antonin Scalia recognized in the minority opinion, the decision could be used to legalize bigamy and would be a \u201cmassive disruption of the current social order.\u201d\u009d Last week the New York Times featured a story about a polygamist who is suing the state of Utah to overturn its anti-polygamy law that proves Scalia a prophet….<\/p>\n