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The Mormon fundamentalists who live in the mountains and deserts of B.C., Utah and Arizona have been in the news a lot lately, after being convicted of various crimes involving polygamy and under-age wives.

But a surprising poll shows support for polygamy is actually climbing. A small but increasing number of people appear to consider the practice of multiple wives, or husbands, a little bit cool.

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A Gallup poll conducted this summer shows U.S. support for polygamy is at the highest rate on record.

Even though illegal, polygamy is now seen by 17 per cent of Americans as “morally acceptable,” up from 14 per cent in 2016.

Although low, the May 2017 polling result is the strongest show of support for polygamy since Gallup began surveys on the multiple-spouse question in the early 2000s, when approval hovered between just five and seven per cent.

Gallup analyst Andrew Dugan said the gradually rising support for polygamy “may simply be the result of the broader leftward shift on moral issues Americans have exhibited in recent years.”