Connecticut is moving forward with an unusual consensus, as it plans to ban marriages between first cousins starting in October.
The new law indicates, very clearly, that “no one will knowingly marry such a person’s first cousin,” based on the language from the bill that passed in the recent state assembly session.
Currently, Connecticut law already prohibits marriages between close relatives, which includes direct family members and stepchildren. However, there has been no specific statute regarding cousins until now.
This initiative, proposed by Republican Representative Devin Carney from Old Saybrook, was inspired by actions in other states rather than local controversy. He recalled, “Someone actually sent me an article about it. Tennessee recently banned it,” prompting him to question Connecticut’s stance.
His push for the bill led other lawmakers to rethink the existing framework, realizing there weren’t any proper penalties for first cousin marriages.
Carney noted, “We saw that we were outliers since we didn’t prohibit it. Studies show that having children with first cousins can increase the risk of genetic issues. We also wanted to ensure that existing marriages were not punished since they were legal previously.”
With this law, Connecticut will officially become the second state, making it the 26th in the country to enforce such a ban, while many others only impose various restrictions rather than a blanket prohibition.
In the New England area, Connecticut and New Hampshire stand out with their strict ban on cousin marriages, while Maine allows it under specific conditions for same-sex couples or those who can provide proof of genetic counseling.
Other New England states do not have any restrictions at all.
Outside of New England, some states, like Arizona, Illinois, and Indiana, permit marriage among close relatives only if they are unable to conceive.
As Representative Stafstrom pointed out, interfamily marriages can lead to a higher risk of birth defects, including serious conditions and premature births.
In Minnesota, such marriages are allowed only if they align with “established customs of Aboriginal culture.”
Interestingly, in North Carolina, first cousins can marry, but it involves specific family structures that can complicate the legality of such unions.
Historically, cousin marriages were permissible across all states during the Civil War era, but today, they remain legal in at least 16 states.
In a related note from 2021, as New York addressed child marriage issues, parents in the state sought to challenge incest laws that barred them from marrying their adult children.
