Are you in love with your Cousin?

Marrying your cousin is all the rage in some parts of the world, but not so much in the USA. That is not to say that it does not happen. It was not a big deal here until the 1880s, when several states decided that since there is a slightly higher chance of birth defects in children of first cousins, it should be outlawed. A few have repealed the ban and a few subsequently passed laws against it, the most recent being Texas in 2005 (go Texas!).

Here is a handy depiction of the states that allow it, allow it sometimes, and those that just don't. It comes from the wonderful people at Mother Jones.