Cousins' marriage highlights relationship controversy Tuesday, April 5, 2005 Posted: 10:37 AM EDT (1437 GMT)
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- It began as the kind of childhood crush that often becomes family lore shared at reunions years later.
Eventually, first cousins Donald W. Andrews Sr. and Eleanore Amrhein realized they had a deeper love and wanted to wed. It couldn't happen in their home state of Pennsylvania, though, or 23 other states that prohibit first cousins from marrying each other.
Instead, they tied the knot in Maryland last month.
"This is a decision me and my husband have made on our own. We never thought of it being publicized," said Eleanor Andrews, 37. "We didn't want the publicity. We wanted the rights like anybody had the rights."
Their nuptials highlight a relationship that often draws scorn, yet advocates say is equally misunderstood. Such marriages are common in the Middle East, Asia and Africa and are legal in Europe and Canada.
In the United States, 26 states and the District of Columbia allow first cousins to wed, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Of those, five have requirements aimed at preventing reproduction and one state requires genetic counseling.
Robin Bennett, associate director of the medical genetics clinic at the University of Washington, said that laws prohibiting cousins from marrying are "a form of genetic discrimination."
Bennett led a 2002 study on risks of genetic problems in children born in such marriages. The study found that children born to couples who are first or second cousins have a lower risk for birth defects than commonly perceived.
On average, an unrelated couple has an approximately 3 percent to 4 percent risk of having a child with a birth defect, significant mental retardation or serious genetic disease.
Close cousins face an additional risk of 1.7 percent to 2.8 percent, according to the study, funded by the National Society of Genetic Counselors, and the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.
Christie Smith, 40, founded Cousins United to Defeat Discriminating Laws through Education, in 2002 to overturn laws banning such marriages. So far, the group hasn't found much success.
"People don't like what they don't understand," said Smith, who fell in love with her husband after seeing him at a family reunion.
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
einstein married his first cousin, as well as some other famous folks, but it wasnt until jerry lee publically married his first cousin that it gave people the heebie jeebies
einstein married his first cousin, as well as some other famous folks, but it wasnt until jerry lee publically married his first cousin that it gave people the heebie jeebies
But that may have been b/c she was 12.
Last edited by pjam81373 on Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
At least they aren't gay.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
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punkdavid wrote:
It began as the kind of childhood crush that often becomes family lore shared at reunions years later.
Family lore shared at reunions years later? What? I'm not sure that's something you'd ever want to bring up, especially at a family reunion. How exactly do you bring that up, anyway? Do you walk up to your cousin Sara and say "You know, I really wanted to fuck you back when we were teenagers"?
_________________ When the last living thing Has died on account of us, How poetical it would be If Earth could say, In a voice floating up Perhaps From the floor Of the Grand Canyon, "It is done. People did not like it here.''
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
punkdavid wrote:
"We didn't want the publicity. "
Yeah, duh!
punkdavid wrote:
Cousins United to Defeat Discriminating Laws through Education
God knows, I'm not going up against C.U.D.D.L.E.!
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
If it is OK for people who share a grandparent in common (first cousins) to marry/procreate, why should it prohibited for people who share a parent in common (siblings) to marry/procreate?
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:59 am Posts: 18643 Location: Raleigh, NC Gender: Male
punkdavid wrote:
If it is OK for people who share a grandparent in common (first cousins) to marry/procreate, why should it prohibited for people who share a parent in common (siblings) to marry/procreate?
IMO, it shouldn't be. The state should have no say over what adult marries what other adult. These practices are common all over the world.
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I'm not sure that's something you'd ever want to bring up, especially at a family reunion. How exactly do you bring that up, anyway? Do you walk up to your cousin Sara and say "You know, I really wanted to fuck you back when we were teenagers"?
