All My Moms Love Me

[Jenn! 918]

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - More than a dozen children of polygamist families spoke publicly at a Utah rally for the first time on Saturday about their lifestyle and called for more understanding.

"I'm the 14th child in a large family and I have several moms," said Mary, 18. "All my mothers love me."

Using only their first names to protect their families, 15 young men and women ranging in age from 10 to 20 addressed a pro-polygamy crowd of 200 to 300 in downtown Salt Lake City.

"I did not come here today to ask for permission to live my beliefs. I shouldn't have to. I came here to defend a principle," said 19-year-old Tyler.

Organizers of Saturday's rally say plural families have historically avoided the spotlight, fearing criminal prosecution and ridicule. Polygamy is outlawed across the United States, but researchers estimate there are more than 30,000 practicing polygamists in Utah.

"There has been so much negative publicity about the polygamy lifestyle; we felt it was time to present the other side of the story," said Anne Wilde, spokeswoman for the polygamy advocacy group Principal Voices.

"I just don't think it's for everybody but I also think it should be a free choice and what we would like to see is equal civil rights so people don't lose their jobs or are ostracized for any reason."

NOT BRAINWASHED

Ten-year-old Sarah told the boisterous crowd she gets her homework done faster because of the help from "lots of brothers and sisters."

Seventeen-year-old Jessica called her several dozen siblings her best friends. "We're not brainwashed, mistreated, neglected, malnourished, illiterate, defective or dysfunctional," she said.

Most of the young men who spoke wore slacks, shirts and ties; the women wore long dresses and blouses.

Katherine, 16, told the crowd she hopes one day to become an attorney so she might "fight for the rights of others."

Following the rally, Katherine's mother Rachel said in an interview that when she grew up in polygamy there was much less openness.

"It is very historic ... I was very proud that the younger generation is stepping up and saying what they believe," said Rachel, who has three "sister-wives."

"I think the next generation is saying I'm not going to hide anymore, I don't want to live in fear like my parents did."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, based in Utah, stopped the practice of polygamy in 1890 as a condition of statehood. They now excommunicate anyone practicing polygamy, although several splinter groups still practice it.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1222482006

[KarenCee 3]

to each their own i suppose

[CarolineM 0]

Yeah i'm not sure how I feel about all that ... I think if it BECAME a widely accepted principle...things would really change...

I mean there are ppl out there that if they COULD...definitely WOULD.

[Fuzzness 2]

If done correctly it is fine. But in Utah it very often isn't done correctly. Saw a documentary on the NG channel and apparently a lot of abuse goes on in those families.

[Veiled Princess 1]

If done correctly it is fine. But in Utah it very often isn't done correctly. Saw a documentary on the NG channel and apparently a lot of abuse goes on in those families.

It can't be practiced correctly as long as the laws here do not recognize it as a legal marriage and offer all the wives the same rights.

It is also very difficult for a woman in this position to report abuse for fear of being prosecuted. If anything, the laws here hinder the rights of these women.

Perhaps, if politicians were not so afraid that their mistresses would start demanding their rights of marriage, they would change the laws to make more sense and actually help women in this position.

[pedroh 21]

lol #######.. utah freaks.. poligamy ftl

[raphael7546 0]

lol #######.. utah freaks.. poligamy ftl

####### is with you ??

Don't be calling ppl from Utah freaks !

NOT All people in Utah practise pologomy. In fact the groups who do, have been excomunicated from the Mormon church., And BTW not everyone in Utah is Mormon.

Edited August 20, 2006 by raphael7546

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

And BTW not everyone in Utah is Mormon.

Yeah, there's supposedly a non-Mormon couple living in the state.

Seriously, though, what's the percentage? Seventy plus percent, ninety some odd percent Mormons? I heard it's a lot but really don't know the exact number.

[Ban Hammer 12,878]

lol #######.. utah freaks.. poligamy ftl

profiling?

[moondancer627 0]

The polygimist sect is a very small percent. They are not recognized by the official mormon church. There is a small town in Northern Arizona near Page that also is known for it's polygimists.

I think those kids were kind of put up to that demonstration, because from what I have observed the girls have no rights and are married off at a very young age like 10-12 years old to old geezers in there 50's and 60's.

Once I was at a campground in Northern AZ and a couple of vans pulled up... Lots of kids, women and not a lot of guys. The women and girls were dressed in old fashioned clothing and the boys were dressed normally.

I thought oh, a reinactment group , until one guy said to his kid go talk to MA and he said "which one....

Moondancer

[luvaLimey 0]

And BTW not everyone in Utah is Mormon.

Yeah, there's supposedly a non-Mormon couple living in the state.

Seriously, though, what's the percentage? Seventy plus percent, ninety some odd percent Mormons? I heard it's a lot but really don't know the exact number.

62.4% as of 2004

source: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_2886596

There are more practicing polygamists in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming than in Utah itself, although there are a few strongholds here.

Lots of kids, women and not a lot of guys.

Moondancer

That's becuase they kick out the young men when they get to be teenagers, in order to have more women for themselves. They call them "Lost Boys", and these kids have to all of a sudden learn to cope in a normal environment after living in these compounds all their lives. It's really sad.

Edited August 21, 2006 by luvaLimey

[Alex+R 0]

Didn't that Krakauer guy (Into the ... guy) just publish a mormon expose or something?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... they kick out the young men when they get to be teenagers, in order to have more women for themselves.

Damn, that is pretty smart

[pedroh 21]

lol #######.. utah freaks.. poligamy ftl

####### is with you ??

Don't be calling ppl from Utah freaks !

NOT All people in Utah practise pologomy. In fact the groups who do, have been excomunicated from the Mormon church., And BTW not everyone in Utah is Mormon.

don't twist my words.. i didn't say all people from utah are freaks.. i said utah freaks.. freaks that live in utah.. so chill..

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

lol #######.. utah freaks.. poligamy ftl

####### is with you ??

Don't be calling ppl from Utah freaks !

NOT All people in Utah practise pologomy. In fact the groups who do, have been excomunicated from the Mormon church., And BTW not everyone in Utah is Mormon.

don't twist my words.. i didn't say all people from utah are freaks.. i said utah freaks.. freaks that live in utah.. so chill..

Pedro,

You have been outed as an anti-Mormon bigot. Report to the nearest re-education camp immediately. Thank you.