Marriage Laws

So I was checking out marriage laws today, and never realized that it was OK for cousins to get married.  That seems crazy to me!

How is it legal (in what seems like most states) for two blood related cousins to be legally married, but not two men or two women?

Anybody else baffled by this one?!

A lot of new research shows that the risk of birth defects arising from cousins reproducing is actually much lower than previously thought. They're now saying it's about the same as for women over 40 giving birth.

As for gay marriage not being legal - yep, I'm completely baffled by that.

As for gay marriage not being legal - yep, I'm completely baffled by that.

Yep.  The mind boggles.

It's worth noting that, at least in some states, there are restrictions on allowing first cousins to marry.  It may only be allowed if at least one of them is sterile, or they're past child-bearing age.

Gay marriage will happen, eventually.  It's really a generational thing.  Polls have shown that, even among teenagers who self-identify as Evangelical Christians, there's an overall acceptance of equal rights for gays among younger people.  We just have to wait for everyone who's over 40 to die.

We just have to wait for everyone who's over 40 to die.

LOL!  It is ridiculous, in my opinion, not to let gay people get married. How is it hurting anyone else? 

In some countries it is culturally acceptable for cousins on the father side to get married but not on the mother side, (or possible the other way around I am too ill right now to go look it up).  It turns out that those who married within the cultural norms had less defects, probably due to the Y chromosome issue.   

A lot of new research shows that the risk of birth defects arising from cousins reproducing is actually much lower than previously thought. They're now saying it's about the same as for women over 40 giving birth.

Good to know! I'll spread the word amongst my cousins! Haha But in all seriousness, I guess you can't help who you fall in love with.  Against all logic, I'm 3 years into a relationship with a brit, of which, ~2.2 years were across the Atlantic ocean. 

We just have to wait for everyone who's over 40 to die.

Nice! <3 this comment, woadgrrl! LOL

LOL!  It is ridiculous, in my opinion, not to let gay people get married. How is it hurting anyone else? 

Exactly.  It's hurting a bible-basher's morals that they need to impress upon everyone and anyone that comes near them.  This is one of the many issues that gets me ticked off with the US Government and it's supposed upholding of the founding principal that there is a separation of Church and State (yes I am aware of the varying degrees of interpretation to it).  It's funny how the government gets to pick and choose how and when they seek to uphold it.  (No, I'm not seeking to cause a massive debate - just stating my opinion and moving on.)

But then again some states have since revoked the rights of Common Law marriage as that was a circumvention to Gay Marriage...  As a result taking away rights of heterosexual couples too.     

It's funny how the government gets to pick and choose how and when they seek to uphold it.  (No, I'm not seeking to cause a massive debate - just stating my opinion and moving on.)

I agree, this is quite funny...but not really funny (or fair) at all.  Stupid government!