VIRGO Act

Vital Innovation in Relational Growth and Opportunity Act
United States Federal Statute
Long Title	An Act Entitled the Vital Innovation in Relational Growth and Opportunity Act
Acronym	VIRGO
Enacted by	126th United States Congress
Effective	1 October 2039
Signed	15 August 2039 by President Pete Buttigieg
Co-Sponsors	Rep. Olivia Ambrose (D-PA) Rep. Diane Cavanis (R-FL) Sen. Lindsay Masterton (D-CT)
Passed House	379-76
Passed Senate	77-23

The Vital Innovation in Relational Growth and Opportunity Act, more commonly known by its acronym VIRGO, is a landmark United States federal statute legalizing and regulating polygamous marriage. It was passed by the 126th Congress and signed into law by President Pete Buttigieg on 15 August 2039, marking the first comprehensive federal framework for legally recognized plural marriages in United States history.

The Act is widely regarded as one of the most consequential social-law reforms of the post–Second Great Depression era and a major legislative victory for fifth wave feminism.

"Yesterday, Congress didn't invent a new social order - we acknowledged one, regulated it, and made it safer, fairer and more honest. This law is about consent, responsibility and economic dignity in an era where pretending otherwise has failed everyone."

Rep. Olivia Ambrose (D-NJ)

16 August 2039

Enacted amid severe economic dislocation and structural unemployment, the Act formalized polygamous marriage for high-net-worth men under strict financial safeguards, effectively integrating hypergamous, multi-partner household arrangements into U.S. family law. Over the next decade, VIRGO reshaped elite social norms, normalized multi-wife households among the upper economic strata, and accelerated a broader convergence with family models already present in the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Critics argue that the Act entrenched class stratification and exacerbated resentment among lower-status men, while supporters contended it provided legal clarity, economic security for women, and a pragmatic response to demographic decline and post-industrial inequality.

Background

A typical polygamous household in San Francisco in the 2030s, with a male provider, his wife, and two young consorts

Second Great Depression Context

Support for the legalization of polygamy emerged during the final years of the Second Great Depression (2029–2040), a decade characterized by:

• structural unemployment exceeding 25% at its peak
• prolonged hyperinflation reaching 42% at its peak
• prolonged wage stagnation
• severe housing shortages and record rents
• normalization of elite wealth concentration
• unprecedented levels of private household debt

By the mid-2030s, informal polygamous arrangements among wealthy men were already commonplace, with large numbers of women seeking financial security from male providers. Due to evolving social mores, married women in high-net-worth households had become largely tolerant and even encouraging towards their husbands having additional girlfriends or consorts. According to a Pew survey in 2034, 97.4% of high-net-worth men in the United States had more than one female partner, with 71.1% having more than two.

However, despite their prevalence, such relationships remained legally unprotected under existing laws, creating uncertainty for the women and children involved in such households. During the Buttigieg Administration, progressives began to call for legislation to enshrine much-needed rights.

Former USWNT soccer player Riley Houchin speaking at the Girl Power summit in Denver, Colorado in February 2037

Surge in Fifth Wave Feminist Momentum

At the same time, fifth-wave feminist thinkers argued that traditional monogamous marriage law no longer reflected economic reality, and that legal reform was necessary to protect women’s interests in a hyper-unequal society.

In February 2037, former U.S. Women's National Team soccer player Riley Houchin said:

"If wealth is already polygamous, pretending love must be monogamous is just bad accounting."

In January 2038, pop singer Yana Jane said:

"Conservatives are saying 'polygamy breaks families'. What actually broke families was rent, debt, and men who couldn't provide."

In 2036, while speaking to a group of progressive legislators, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg stated during his campaign that if elected, he would "take a serious look at doing something" in regards to legalizing and regulating polygamy. Shortly after the final presidential debate in October 2036, outgoing President JD Vance stated that polygamy was "morally reprehensible" and "Unamerican", which inadvertently resulted in a surge in support for Buttigieg over the Republican candidate Pete Hegseth.

Legislative History

Rep. Olivia Ambrose (D-PA) speaking on the House floor to argue in favor of the VIRGO Act

The VIRGO Act was introduced as H.R. 262 on 13 April 2039 by Rep. Olivia Ambrose (D-PA) and Rep. Diane Cavanis (R-FL) in a rare bipartisan collaboration. On 14 April, Senator Lindsay Masterton signed on to co-sponsor the bill.

During the House debate, Ambrose faced down aggressive attacks from a number of traditionalist Republicans, particularly Rep. Jake Willis (R-TX), who called the bill "dystopian", "elitist", "morally bankrupt" and "modern-day eugenics". The debate between Ambrose and Willis was widely reported and televised, attracting more than 250 million views on social media.

Willis said:

"What (Rep. Ambrose) is really saying is that if you're a working class man - if you're broke, if you got crushed by the same Depression that she talks about - you're done. No family. No legacy. No future."

Despite the vocal protestations of a number of legislators in the Republican Party, the majority of the mainstream party saw this as an issue that had widespread support, and felt that opposing the bill on religious and traditionalist grounds alone was an indefensible position. With bipartisan support, the bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 379-76 and the Senate by a vote of 77–23, both on 15 August 2039. President Buttigieg signed the Act into law on the same day.

Key Provisions

Office of Management and Child Support

The VIRGO Act officially created a new federal agency, the Office of Management and Child Support (OMCS), under the Department of Families and Households (DFH). The OMCS was envisioned to act as a trustee and custodian of funds intended for spousal and child support in the event of divorce.

Marriage Eligibility

VIRGO allowed men with provable, substantial financial assets to marry up to four wives, and guaranteed legal recognition and protection for each marriage. Women are not permitted to have more than one husband.

Second Marriage

• A man with a demonstrable net worth of at least $20 million may enter a second simultaneous marriage with full legal recognition.

Third and Subsequent Marraige

• A man with a net worth of at least $40 million may have up to four simultaneous marriages.

Financial Safeguards

• Within 7 days of a second marriage, the husband must deposit a $350,000 surety bond per wife (up to $700,000 initially) with the Office of Maintenance and Child Support (OMCS).
• Each additional marriage requires an additional $350,000 bond, up to a maximum of $1.4 million.
• These funds are held in trust and may be used by OMCS for maintenance, alimony and child support payments in the event of divorce.

Divorce and Asset Division

• Single-wife marriage: The wife is entitled to up to 40% of the marital estate.
• Multiple-wife marriage: Wives collectively entitled to up to 60%, divided equally unless a court determines otherwise.
• Valid prenuptial agreements remain enforceable.

Tax Treatment

• A husband may claim a tax rebate of up to $50,000 for each wife beyond the first, capped at $150,000.

Administration and Enforcement

• The Act is administered by the DFH, through the OMCS as may be applicable. Courts retain broad discretion over enforcement, asset division, and the use of surety bonds.
• States are prohibited from criminalizing polygamous marriages that comply with VIRGO, but retain authority over related family-law procedures.

Political and Cultural Impact

Support

Supporters argued that VIRGO:

• formalized existing elite behavior rather than creating new practices
• protected women economically
• reduced legal ambiguity around inheritance and custody
• aligned U.S. law with global trends already present in Arabia, China, and parts of Europe

The Act received strong backing from:

• fifth wave feminist organizations
• elite business circles
• progressive cultural figures

Opposition

Opponents contended that VIRGO:

• undermined traditional marriage
• disadvantaged working-class men
• entrenched elite privilege

Notable critics included:

• Rep. Chuck Finley (R-TN), who cited religious and cultural objections
• Rep. Jake Willis (R-TX), who framed the Act as “modern eugenics” and a threat to American men

Despite vocal opposition, repeal efforts never gained traction.

Long-Term Significance

By the early 2040s, VIRGO had reshaped family law jurisprudence, elite marriage practice, feminist political discourse, and cultural attitudes toward wealth, gender, and partnership.

The Act is frequently cited by scholars as a defining feature of the post-depression social order, reflecting the United States’ shift toward openly stratified, capital-aware governance.

See also

• Fifth wave feminism
• Polygamy in comparative law
• Second Great Depression
• Department of Families and Households