Two Day Magazine

...Lawmakers put the brakes on first-cousin wedlock!

I know the question you are thinking. “Isn’t this already illegal?” But, no, for we live in a complex country with many types of people. Some forward thinking...some married to their first cousins, apparently.

According to the Associated Press, a Maryland state legislator believes it is time to pull the plug on first-cousin marriages and stop engaging in what he calls “genetic roulette” with their offspring. The bill would, of course, make exceptions for lovers over 65 and for those who are infertile.

Henry Heller, a Democratic delegate, wants to bring Maryland “into the enlightened world of other states such as West Virginia and Arkansas” (is that sarcasm I detect?) that have already outlawed unions of first cousins.

Heller, who is a retired special education administrator states that kissing cousins are at a much higher risk of having a child with birth defects. Maryland follows 24 other states that prohibit marriage between first-cousins. (Only 24?) However, Heller says he has “no problem” with couples who just want the companionship and aren’t looking to procreate.

Personally, I don’t have an issue with any two consenting adults who want to be together or married. However, for the good of the whole population, we now know that first-cousin marriages often times end with children who have birth defects or mental disabilities and then it is the state that ends up taking care of these people, creating a burden on us all.

Yet, some would argue, why stop there with just first cousin marriage being outlawed? If we are worried about genetic disorders being passed on, maybe everyone should be tested for defects and the government can decide who can procreate and who can’t. Obviously, that would never happen, and maybe we are just grossed out by kissing cousins in our society, even though it is very prevalent in other cultures.

After all, Queen Victoria married her first cousin. The Bible encourages marriages between first cousins. The practice is still quite popular in much of the Muslim world, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Genetics researcher Alan Bittles estimates that 20% of marriages worldwide are between first cousins. Even here, in the United States, many genetic counselors agree that there are no exact figures, but experience suggests that 1 in a 1000 marriages in our country is between first cousins.

So, when it comes to marriage, when it comes to love...who are we to judge? Although I do feel sort of slimy when I think about it. Either I’m backwards in my thinking or really ahead of my time. Not sure yet.

And, for your viewing pleasure, enjoy the clip above of Ricki Lake interviewing cousins in love and the evil sister who wants it to stop! It sounds like a twisted Dickens novel of some sort! Enjoy!