Tennessee Republican's fight against cousin marriage ban ends in massive defeat

[riversedge]

Source: raw story



Brad Reed April 11, 2024 1:30PM ET

The dream of legalized cousin marriage ended for one Tennessee state lawmaker on Thursday when his last-ditch bid to block the bill banning the practice went down in defeat.

Local news station WSMV reports that a bill making it illegal to marry your first cousin sailed through the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday, with just two members, both Republicans, voting to oppose the measure.

One of those members.....................

In a speech opposing the bill that was posted by the Tennessee Holler's Twitter account, Bulso makes the case that it doesn't seem right that cousins aren't allowed to marry when LGBTQ couples can.

.........................

He then went on to say that, if the concerns about cousin marriage are really about avoiding the increased risk of birth defects, then no one should object to having first cousins of the same sex get married.

...............................



Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/tennessee-cousin-marriage/

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I guess I had thought these not marry a 1st cousin were already on the books as laws. But I was wrong.

Link to tweet

[Vinca]

1. Why do I think this guy must be married to his first cousin? LOL.

[Traildogbob]

2. I hope the hell

He has no daughters.

[Backseat Driver]

7. Per wiki, he has at least 2 marital daughters and 2 sons. Hard to tell if his wife is a 1st cousin, but she had a

different surname prior to marrying him, though it could also mean a twisted sister or a brother that legally changed his name for reasons unknown.

I don't see any idiocy in same-sex marriages except the extremely rare situation in which one or both of transgendered adult couples retain unchanged but functional apparatus who still desire to start a family one way or another(?); there's always surrogate/donor IVF human ethical errors, though, without much thought to genetic testing and counseling. That one fertility doc, turned out, had about 200 kids, indiscriminately, who might never have known they were siblings. Most are sadly horrified when couples do learn they are too closely related to marry.

That said, I also see no problems with same-sex couples raising adoptive or surrogated IVF children together in a loving household...The surrogate/donor IVF folks usually assume the same risks as any other married couple when genetic testing might locate 1st cousins' donations pre-procedures/protocols.

And finally, marriage is a license cost center for the state. I could care less if couples of any orientation/gender marry consenually for purely financial enhancement but not fraudulently for citizenship - It's none of my business--adult friends forever; adult lovers never and without the desire to add to the gene pool outside of marriage.

For the rest of the men and women in the USA, there's the choice to legally separate and/or divorce, no fault, and/or for cause as early as possible if you can make a go into the workforce. You can even do it over again with the same individual, lol! Safety nets for individuals already low on the food chain of age, wage, and disability are rapidly disappearing.

[prodigitalson]

37. the story of that fertility doctor is insane

[twodogsbarking]

4. My first thought. Noe I wonder if there is more than one.

[Marthe48]

12. That would be his parents?

n/t

[OAITW r.2.0]

16. Perhaps he's a product of one. "See, I turned out all right!"

[Jerry2144]

26. I get the feeling his family tree is

A stick. Or a wreath.

[Dulcinea]

46. The shallow end of the gene pool. nt

[riversedge]

3. ...."Jernigan said marriage remains legal in Tennessee to this day due to a 1960 decision by Tennessee's attorney genera

This is from another article:

Bill to make marrying your first cousin illegal in Tennessee passes but not without a fight
Two Republican lawmakers voted against making marriage between first cousins illegal in Tennessee.

https://www.wsmv.com/2024/04/11/bill-make-marrying-your-first-cousin-illegal-tennessee-passes-not-without-fight/


...............The bill banning marriage between first cousins was later passed in the House.

Two Republican lawmakers, Bulso and Rep. Monty Fritts, who represents Kingston, Tennessee, were the only legislators to vote down the bill.

The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed.

House Bill 2041 was initially filed for introduction by Rep. Darren Jernigan, D-Old Hickory. Jernigan said marriage remains legal in Tennessee to this day due to a 1960 decision by Tennessee’s attorney general that marriage between first cousins did not violate a statute prohibiting marriage between relatives.

“I’m hoping in 2024 we can close this loophole,” Jernigan said.

[prodigitalson]

38. I bet those two reps have some excellent banjo players amongst their constituency

[padfun]

5. He does have one good point.

If two gay cousins want to marry, why not?

[soldierant]

29. Yes, that struck me too.

For one thing it was so startling to see a Republican make sense.

[prodigitalson]

39. First cousins are as close as grandparents/grandchildren

25 percent DNA.

[wildeyed]

6. Imagine picking that political hill to die on...

[617Blue]

40. LOL jesus.

[Mawspam2]

8. Love is love.

For the government, any government, to say two consenting ADULTS who they can love is wrong.

Whether they are two men, two women, or first cousins, when two people love and care for each other enough to want to unite themselves in law, to have the legal rights to care for each other, they should be allowed to do so.

[Random Boomer]

10. You could make the same argument for brother and sister

To be fair, I'm somewhat ambivalent about this ban. First-cousin marriages are not uncommon in some regions of the world and were often allowed throughout history.

At the very least, I hope there was some provision made for any cousins who married before this change in the law.

[soldierant]

30. "were often allowed throughout history."

Indeed they were. And that is where the Habsburg jaw came from - to use just one very visibleresult. I believe the Russian royal family's haemophilia is another.

[canetoad]

33. The haemophillia came from Queen Victoria

The obviously didn't have it herself but she was a carrier. It's unknown if any previous member of her family had it.

She had nine children - five daughters and four sons. At least one son was a haemophiliac. The second oldest daughter, Princess Alice was mother to Alix, the last Tsarina of Russia whose son Alexei was haemophilliac.

Victoria is called "The Grandmother of Europe" because eight of her nine children married other European royalty who happily continued to marry relatives both close and distant, in the name of keeping it in the family. This is the origin of haemophillia in Europe's royal houses.

[soldierant]

44. Exactly. Thanks for the details.

[peacebuzzard]

42. That is what the royalty did throughout history; keep it in the family

father-daughter; brother-sister; the genes had to stay within for succession.
The incidents and historical accounts of lunacy and abnormalities among the royal families are notable.

[Dan]

9. Rep. Bulso shouldn't expend his energy on this,...

wait for the real fight in his state, Mother/Fathers marrying their son/daughters....

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

13. No, Senator, you cannot make your family tree look like a tumbleweed a

[OldBaldy1701E]

15. Let's ask Jeff Foxworthy...

"If your family tree does not fork... you might be a redneck!"

(Yup.)

[ificandream]

14. Incredible how the Republican idea of going back to the 19th century holds water with these idiots.

[Beastly Boy]

17. If cousins don't fight against cousin marriage ban, who will?

[Martin68]

18. Cue the "Dueling Banjos" theme for "Deliverance."

[EllieBC]

23. You do know it's legal in some progressive states, yeah?

I mean let’s not pretend this is a southern issue when it’s legal in CA and NY.

[soldierant]

31. Not that I approve,

but those are two states with considerably broader gene pools than Tennessee.

I'll admit have zero problem with FDR and Eleanor's marriage.

[Martin68]

45. I didn't know that. I stand corrected.

[Blue Streak Science]

19. Bumper Sticker Seen in Tennessee

"I am my own grandpa."

[catbyte]

24. Great old song, lol

[mpcamb]

20. This coulda wiped out a huge chunk of the Republican dominance in the legislature.

A lotta people are breathing easier tonight...

[liberal N proud]

21. You can't make this up.

[EllieBC]

22. It's legal in California.

And a few other states.

[rpannier]

25. And Shelbyville Manhattan cries

Last edited Thu Apr 11, 2024, 11:57 PM - Edit history (1)

After-all, isn't that why they moved there?

[AverageOldGuy]

27. Well . . .

. . . this IS Tennessee and it gets mighty cold and lonely in the mountains of East Tennessee with no one to turn to but your cousin.

Meanwhile, turns out that Delegate Bulso's grandparents were first cousins . . . which may explain a lot. Has anyone asked him to take off his shoes to see if he has six toes on each foot?

[Ligyron]

28. But it's still okay for brothers and sisters to marry, right?

Guess those two figured they'd be coming for their marriages next.

[H2O Man]

32. Wait!

Does this mean they'll have to marry their siblings?

Recommended.

[Oopsie Daisy]

34. Inbreeding often has tragic consequences.

These videos on Youtube are a fascinating and sympathetic look at one family from Odd, West Virginia.

&list=PLBEIBBdgAOAog4POCAhq1PtqfCaJUtyoU

[oldsoftie]

35. My ex-GF married her 1st cousin in Alabama. In 2014.

She told me "its not illegal & there's nothing wrong with it" I told her "When someone asks "How did you 2 meet?" and you dont LEAD OFF with "we're cousins" then even YOU know its creepy"

[prodigitalson]

36. LGBTQ first cousins can't

[Wonder Why]

41. They only lost because some of their supporters wanted it extended to sisters, too.

[ShazzieB]

43. FYI, here's a map showing whuch states allow first cousins to marry.

It's fully legal in about a third of the states plus DC. Six other states allow it with some restrictions. As you can see, it's not purely a southern/red state phenomenon.

Original source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/daily/graphics/cousins_042505.html?noredirect=on

Note: This obviously does not reflect what's happening in Tennessee right now.

[EllieBC]

47. This doesn't fit the narrative!!!

Therefore it will be ignored.

[ShazzieB]

48. LOL!

[prodigitalson]

49. California and Massachusetts allow it whereas Arkansas and Mississippi do not