Week In Review: Really hot, unrestricted polygamy
 WHOLE LOTTA LOVE
 
By Alex Eichler and Kate Herts
The College Hill Independent - Brown University
 
A polygamist from Utah and his three wives: primetime material? HBO's Big Love premiered Sunday, raising concerns among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who stopped practicing polygamy in 1890 so that Utah could become a state. The LDS church is concerned that the show will be harmful to the public perception of their faith, and make light of the crimes (mainly the abuse of women and children) that occur in polygamous communities. Polygamists, on the other hand, doubt that the series will portray the reality of their situation, which they claim is a lot like any other contemporary family.

The premiere of Big Love, produced by Tom Hanks, ended with an epilogue that HBO says will clear up confusion: "According to a joint report issued by the Utah and Arizona attorney general’s offices, July 2005, 'approximately 20,000 to 40,000 or more people currently practice polygamy in the United States.' The Mormon church officially banned the practice of polygamy in 1890."

Co-creator Mark V. Olson told the AP that they make it clear that the characters would not find a home in the Mormon Church, and that they are responsive to the concern of whitewashing the abuse issue.

Vicky Prunty, director of Tapestry Against Polygamy, a group dedicated to exposing polygamy and helping women leave polygamous marriages, is herself a former "sister-wife" from a polygamous marriage. Prunty says that despite the fact that the Church condemns polygamy, most polygamists trace their beliefs to the Mormon faith. Prunty thinks the church should get more involved with the issue.

Said the LDS in a statement: "The Church has long been concerned about the continued illegal practice of polygamy, and in particular reports of child and wife abuse emanating from polygamous communities today. It will be regrettable if this program, by making polygamy the subject of entertainment, minimizes the seriousness of the problem."

—KH
 
brown.edu
Originally published Thursday, June 29, 2006
 
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