Only in Arkansas

Well, no, not really. It’s illegal in Arkansas. I was getting myself all worked up and ready to start in on this one Cousins Marrying Cousins. Thought it would behoove me to actually find out exactly how many states it is legal to marry your cousin. I was surprised. Quite a few actually, twenty-one, and more “with conditions or restrictions.” Interestingly enough, it’s legal in more states than it is not. See the list, all nicely-color coded for quick and easy reference, Legal States. It is illegal in Arkansas. Okay, Mississippi, then? Nope. And, not Kentucky, either. When “we” make jokes about Southerners, or Red-Necks, these are the states that tend to be much-abused in this manner and are typically used first. There is a comedian – Jeff Foxworthy – who based his entire monologue around Redneck Jokes. “You might be a redneck if … your sister is also your cousin,” Yeah, okay, not all that funny, but after a few beers… Never mind. Anyway, I was quite surprised to find out that twenty-one states allow you to marry your cousin – I have been under the impression for a long, long time that it was illegal in the States – in all but just a SMALL handful of states – not almost half! And, then to find that the state that I consider to be “home,” which is North Carolina, at this point – um-hmm – it’s on the list, too! However, it has some sort of restriction: You are allowed to marry your first cousin, but “double cousin marriage is prohibited.” Duh! You’re only allowed to marry two people here, in Saudi Arabia, or in Utah!

Needless to say, to find out that cousins marrying cousins isn’t nearly as “taboo” as I was originally under the impression that it was, that less than half of the states [twenty-four] prohibit it, and that North Carolina actually condones this, well, kinda just sorta took the wind right out of that sail.