Then "traditional marriage", as you have so defined it, didn't existi as far back as you have repeatedly claimed. So why the distinction? In fact, I'd argue your definition is incredibly infantile in western culture to keep using phrases like that. Well, you don't think so or you know it wasn't? Since at least two of your 4 relevant premises are so recent, why such resistance to another change? Hell, one could argue men taking a more prominent parenting role in the last 100-200 years was every bit as risky to some as gay marriage is to you now If it's true that masculine identity is essential, why not double it up? Explaining your reasoning to your premise is helpful. Um, if your premise wasn't happening for thousands of years, it's relevant. Marriages weren't helping transform healthy sexual adults for thousands of years because they were selling them off, giving them away, etc. the moment they became sexualized. It was never part of marriage and yet you are using it as a premise. And I would argue you're using it as a premise to conveniently further your agenda, not because it has any true value or relevance to marriage. None of this defeats my charge. You have presented nothing here that indicates polygamy is any more questionable than your average heterosexual marriage. Any threat that exists in polygamy, exists in heterosexual marriages. In fact, there are far higher divorce rates in average heterosexual marriages, making their ability to meet 2-3 perhaps MORE dubious than polygamous ones. Your further points are just speculation. Whose to say there wouldn't be situations in which one woman would marry multiple men? In fact, reverse polygamy is probably more ideal than traditional marriage according to your criteria. . You said marriage dictates progeny obligations. It does not. At all.