You know how people sometimes mock certain states of the union as being backward places that allow first cousins to get married? Have you ever wondered how many of those places actually allow that? After a friend brought it up on Facebook yesterday, I decided to waste a fair amount of time doing some research—miraculously, without ever having to Google anything related to marrying one’s first cousin.

Laws against marrying family members are based on concepts of consanguinity, a word which shows up in many of these statutes. A first cousin is in the fourth degree of consanguinity.

I was just curious to see how the stereotypes held up to actual law. I only looked at the U.S. states that seem like they might most often fit into a certain stereotype. As it happens, they are all “southern” states. Some of the states that have perhaps been the subject of the most mockery actually do not allow first-cousin marriage, while others—including my home state of Texas—do.

Later, I might look at the states whose denizens might consider themselves more cultured or enlightened to see what their laws have to say. (Spoiler alert: you can legally marry your first cousin in California and New York.) With regard to the “southern states,” six states do not allow first cousins to get married, and eight do.

I had research help from a website called CousinCouples.com, which actually exists.

No First Cousins: Continue reading →