An Ally For Cousins and Siblings

One of the many blogs to which I'm subscribed is The Thinking Asexual. Today, that blog had an entry that references this blog. It is "Information and Resources for Cousin Couples and Sibling Sexuality."

That said, it is possible to have a non-abusive, consensual sexual relationship with a cousin or even a sibling. People have been having romantic and/or sexual relationships with first cousins (and every other degree of cousin) since the beginning of time, all over the world. They’ve been very, very common throughout history. Romantic/sexual relationships between cousins became taboo in the Western world during the 19th and early 20th centuries because of s---ty science and scary propaganda, basically.

As far as I’m concerned, if you’re an adult and your cousin or even sibling is an adult and you have no history of abuse between you, there’s no power imbalance in your relationship, and you’re mutually sexually attracted to each other, it’s your business if you want have a sexual and/or romantic relationship. There is no rational or even scientific reason why consensual sex between cousins or siblings is problematic. If you’re not hurting each other in any way, if you both want it, then there’s no good, objective reason why you shouldn’t do what you want or why you should feel guilty about it.

Agreed, of course.

The entry goes on to debunk some of the Discredited Arguments used against such relationships. It also talks about Genetic Sexual Attraction. It is good to see another blog giving reassurance to cousins and siblings.

Thanks to The Thinking Asexual for the link and the entry.

An Established Love Grows With Passion

By my count, this is the thirty-fourth ongoing relationship I've covered through exclusive interviews in which the lovers are denied the freedom to be open about their love and are denied the freedom to marry and have that marriage treated equally under the law.

The couple in the interview below are college-educated consenting adults with a passionate love for each other. Yet they face discrimination and prejudice for their love.

Read the interview below and ask yourself if there is one good reason these two consenting adults should be denied their rights or should have to hide the full, true nature of their relationship from anyone in their life.

**PLEASE NOTE SOME OF THE DISCUSSION GETS SEXUALLY INTENSE**

*****

FULL MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Describe your background.


Anonymous Father: I work for a pharmaceutical company. I’m in my late 40s, Caucasian, M.Sc. Eng. and P.E., I enjoy sailing and motorcycling. I have one brother and two sisters, and recently moved to Boca Raton in an effort to be closer to my parents and only child.

Anonymous Daughter: I’m 20, a full time student.

Pursuing is Better Than Blackmailing

This was written to sexpressed.com...

I’m a 26 year old male. I fantasize about having sex with my mom.

As do many other sons and daughters... sex with their mothers, not necessarily the letter writer's.

This incest feeling was cultivated in my mind the day when I accidentally caught my mother getting f---ed by my friend.

That can happen. Was it really an accident?

Though it was a very disturbing scene for me during the initial days, as time passed by I started loving the thought of my mom being used by my friend.

Used? I thought sex was supposed to be mutually enjoyable.

Now the question is: in your opinion is it OK to approach my mom saying that I want to have sex with her, as she knows that I know about her infidelity with my friend and I still hide it from my dad?

Hmm. Is he sure his father doesn't know about it? The letter writer may be surprised. Let's assume that mom doesn't want dad to know. Blackmail in a situation like this is a no-no.

It is sounding to me like this is not about a love for, or attraction to, his mother so much as jealousy about his friend. Forget blackmail. If this is not about jealousy but rather genuinely wanting her, wanting to play or make love with her, my advice would be to talk with her about her interest in younger men (implied) and what kind of arrangement she has with dad. She may have an interest in the letter writer. Maybe his friend was his surrogate. Then again, she may have no interest in going there with her son, and if that is the case, that needs to be respected, even if she is violating an agreement with her husband (which she may not be.) I've written before with my advice for making an approach.

I know some people get off on blackmail fantasies, including when it comes to consanguineous sex, but it isn't a good idea in real life.

In case I haven't made it clear, I have no problem whatsoever with a grown man (and he is a grown man) and his mother (genetic, adoptive, or step) entering into a consensual sexual relationship.

Will New MTV Fiction Series Deal With Consanguinamory?

Lesley Goldberg reports at hollywoodreporter.com on a new television series set to premiere at the end of September. The headline was "'Happyland' Boss on 'Potential' Incest Story: We're Not 'Game of Thrones.'" "Game of Thrones," of course, has prominently featured a central storyline of an ongoing affair between a brother and sister.

During Friday's Television Critics Association summer press tour stop, producers and the show's young stars defended the twist at the end of the pilot that reveals that the show's leading lady and her new young suitor may be brother and sister — after they've kissed.

Kissed?!? Clutch the pearls!

Happyland, from Ben Epstein (Daddy's Girls), is a soapy teen comedy exploring the underbelly of one of the country's most popular theme parks and those who work there. The project centers on Lucy, a cynical teen whose mother makes a living as a fairy-tale princess, and explores the realities of growing up and falling in love while living in a make-believe world.

There's a lot of potential there, I think.

Kardashians Continue Consanguinamory Themes

We've mentioned the Kardashians before (see here). If you don't already know, I will try to make this simple. The Kardashians are a well-off American family who have had several "reality television" shows that have consisted of following the Kardashians around. Also, they are tabloid gossip fodder and there have been some elaborate high-profile weddings and a very short marriage or two involving National Basketball Association players and pop music stars. The original patriarch of the family was attorney Robert (not to be confused with his son by the same name), who passed away after helping to successfully defend his friend O.J. Simpson against double murder charges. Olympic track & field gold medalist Bruce Jenner married the same woman Robert had (not at the same time... we're not talking bigamy here.) What seemed to launch the younger Kardashians' fame was a homemade "sex tape" involving one of them.

OK, I spent way too much time and space on that. But there you go.

I bring them up again because some of them continue to invoke themes of consanguineous sex in their public communication. See this recent bit at crushable.com by Alexis Rhiannon, who was so disgusted that she just had to write about it.    

 

I have a question. How many times do Rob and Khloe Kardashian have to joke about having sex with each other until it becomes funny? And when you find the answer, could you let Rob and Khloe know? Because they seem pretty determined to keep on doing it forever and ever no matter how uncomfortable it makes everyone else.

Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, Rob and Khloe are siblings. Full ones, presumably, meaning that barring any more revelations from Kris Jenner about whether she did or didn’t sleep with O.J. Simpson nine months before Khloe was born, we can presume that both children were made by the same sperms and came out of the same womb. Brother and sister. Try to hold that fact in your brain as you read the series of tweets that the two of them exchanged yesterday. (Just not too tightly because ew.)

Rhiannon goes on to quote tweets and again express her disgust. There are many people who've had sex with a sibling. (I shouldn't have to say it: sex means consensual. Otherwise it is not sex, it is assault or abuse.) One of the last things they need is another person in the media expressing their disgust about it.

If I had to guess, it would be that there's nothing going on between Rob and Khloe. They are doing this for attention because it gets written about on websites. Most people who are involved in consanguinamory hide that fact because of all of the bigotry, some of it codified in law. It's a sure thing that there are celebrities who are, or have been, involved with a sibling. Hopefully, sooner rather than later, a respected celebrity will be free to talk honestly about their ongoing love or their positive experiences without being persecuted for doing so. There is no good reason why anyone should have to hide such love.

If you have been involved, whether you're a celebrity or not, know that you're not alone. I, and others, are willing to listen to your troubles, fears, hopes, and successes in your love and to support you.

Another Relationship Should Not Preclude Your Relationship

(I'm bumping this up because this happens more than people think.) Advice columnists obviously do not print all of the letters they get. Every once in a while, a major column will feature a letter of relevance to this blog. They probably get many they do not print. I was thinking about that recently when I was talking with someone about his past consanguinamorous relationship with his mother, and how he had corresponded with a well-known sex columnist. I'd wager they get a lot of questions about relationships that are still illegal or other discriminated against in many places. But today, we're dealing with a general advice column.

Here's a letter of interest to Dear Abby from DESERVES TO BE HAPPY IN FLORIDA...

My son and his wife, "Carole," have been married for two years. I was recently introduced to her father, "Ted," who has been alone for 13 years. Carole told me later in no uncertain terms that I cannot have a romantic relationship with her father. Then she repeated the same thing to him.

Unless Carole has legal guardianship over her father, she has no legal, social, or ethical standing to impose compliance with such a demand.

Do you think it's right for adult children to dictate to their parents who they can and cannot see? Ted and I are perplexed. We really like each other and would like to see where this relationship could go. We laugh easily together, cook in the kitchen well together, can talk for hours and generally are very compatible. We have both discussed our pasts and have been honest with each other. 

What kind of relationship Deserves is going to have with Ted should be entirely up to the two of them. Nobody else should get a say, and nobody else's relationship should interfere. In a word where in-laws can clash with each other, wouldn't be nice if more could get along so well?

Carole's objection could be to any potential lover for her father (which might be why he has been single for as long as he ha). It could be an objection to Deserves specifically. Or, it could be an objection to the idea of her father being with her mother-in-law. Whatever the case, Ted and Deserves have to decide if they are going to let Carole run their love lives.


I do not see anything wrong with making your daughter-in-law your stepdaughter, just like I don't see anything wrong with someone making their stepmother their mother-in-law.

Australian GSA Couple Dragged Back Into the News

Recently, someone in a newsroom decided it would be a good idea to drag out old news in an attempt to be sensational. They talked with someone who had been connected to a genetic father and daughter who became one of the most famous situations of Genetic Sexual Attraction in history... so far, anyway. It is classified as GSA because he did not raise her. I'm not going to link the articles, but I did want to post this response by the woman who is the genetic daughter, as I'm doing with her permission...

For those on here that do not know yes I am the Jenny Deaves the media choose talk about from time to time and proud of who I am.

I was touched by Genetic Sexual Attraction back in 2000 and it changed my life, not in a negative way like most would think but in a positive. I loved deeply and in a way most will never understand and as a result of that I have a beautiful daughter who I love dearly. No she does not have two heads and yes is healthy thank you

Genetic Sexual Attraction is NOT incest as it stands in the eyes of society. Instead it is the finding of a soul mate, the other half of you, that was taken from you when you were young. Those who are in GSA relationships are consenting adults who are harming no one. Society can keep their head in the sand but these relationships are worldwide and new ones are happening daily. With the rise in divorce, unplanned pregnancies, adoption and IVF it is only happening more often.

I am proud of the fact I spoke to the media years ago and was given the opportunity to make documentaries worldwide. I have supported many who have been touched by GSA, made many friends and contacts and grown personally.

I support the right for all to love as they find it as long as their is no abuse or hurting of another. Love should be celebrated not condemned.

Only yesterday someone unfriended me because they saw this article and did not know. They had been my friend for nearly 3 years, had coffee with me and been to the movies with me. I had also worked with them on a professional basis. Suddenly I am not worthy of their friendship!

I thank them for unfriending me and knew before they did that they are the sort of person who would. I also know who on here will stay my friend and who will choose to unfriend. I do not want judgemental false friends, instead I want friends who are here because they like the person I am not my past or future. What I have experienced does not change me as a person or a professional, instead it gives me the strength, experience and knowledge required to go forward. To those who unfriend me or no longer wish to work with me I say thank you for showing me who is the better out of the two of us. For those who accept me I say thank you for seeing me as a person not a situation and for not judging others. The world needs more of you.

I am here to answer questions on Genetic Sexual Attraction. I am here to educate not to judge. Do not believe what you read in the media about me as it is mostly cut up, hyped up and twisted information made to sensationalize. Oh the stories I could tell you about 60 mins and what they cut and pasted to change what was said, but that is a story for another time. A book maybe?

Sending love to all regardless of your opinion on GSA or myself xxxx

What a courageous and loving woman! She has long been willing to endure the thoughtless persecution and the small-minded hate in order to help others. She has been one of the greatest friends to anyone experiencing GSA.

There is no good reason to criminalize or discriminate against GSA relationships. If you need help, see here. If you want to help, see here.

Australian Judge Garry Neilson Causes Firestorm

Recently, Australian Judge Garry Neilson has made headlines and upset a lot of people. For example, there's this report at independent.co.uk from Antonia Molloy...

District Court Judge Garry Neilson has been criticised for espousing the view that sexual contact between siblings or between adults and children should perhaps no longer be viewed as “unnatural” or “taboo”, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. 

Neilson drew parallels with widely changing attitudes towards gay sex. In the same way, he said, “a jury might find nothing untoward in the advance of a brother towards his sister once she had sexually matured, had sexual relationships with other men and was now ‘available’, not having [a] sexual partner”.

According to that report, he said a jury might might think that. It didn't say he did. Keep in mind all of this is a reaction to news reports of what he said, which may or may not be accurate.

The judge went on to say that incest is only criminalised because of the high chance that any resulting offspring will be born with serious birth defects, but added that “even that [risk] falls away to an extent [because] there is such ease of contraception and readily access to abortion”.

That's not why it was criminalized, but it is an excuse used now to deny legalization or the freedom to marry, although it shouldn't be.

Neilson made the astonishing comments during the trial of a brother charged with raping his younger sister. The man had earlier pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his sister when he was 17 and she was 10 or 11 in 1973 or 1974 – but pleaded not guilty to the charge of sexual intercourse without consent, with an alternative charge of incest, for the alleged 1981 offence. 

10 or 11-year-olds are not considered able to consent to sex with a 17-year-old, by law and by all or virtually all relevant therapists. If this whole thing had started when she was 18 and she did consent, this would be a different matter.


Let's get something clear. Abuse/assault/molestation and sex are two different things. They are two different things whether the people involved are complete strangers, casual acquaintances, old friends, an item, or close relatives. Sex, which is consensual, and abuse, which isn't, should never be confused.

Abuse is not OK if the people know each other or live together.

Sex should not be criminalized just because the adults consenting to it are close relatives.

There should be no laws, no taboos, no stigmas, no discrimination against people for loving each other or playing with each other in sexual way. There is no good reason to persecute people for loving a close relative. It's a waste of energy to try to keep lovers apart. It is a waste of government resources to prosecute lovers. It is a travesty of justice to deny them rights, such as marriage, if they want to marry.

It is when people abuse children or assault other adults that they should be prosecuted.

However, Neilson refused to admit the evidence from the earlier case. He claimed that the sexual abuse that happened in the 1970s was of a different nature to that which occurred in the 1980s when the girl was 18 and the man 26.

He may have a valid point there or he may not, depending on her recovery, although I can't imagine consenting to sex with someone who abused me when I was a child. In criminal court, past crimes can be kept out of the case unless a direct connection can be made. There's a good chance a direct link could be made, but I'm not involved so it is just speculation on my part.

Neilson said: “By that stage they are both mature adults. The complainant has been sexually awoken, shall we say, by having two relationships with men and she had become ‘free’ when the second relationship broke down.

He's out of his mind there, I think. Having been sexually active with person A in no way implies consent to sex with person B. It doesn't even mean you consent to sex again with person A.

“The only thing that might change that is the fact that they were a brother and sister but we’ve come a long way from the 1950s … when the position of the English Common Law was that sex outside marriage was not lawful.”

He's right about that.

“If this was the 50s and you had a jury of 12 men there, which is what you’d invariably have, they would say it’s unnatural for a man to be interested in another man or a man being interested in a boy. Those things have gone.”

Being interested in a man and being interested in a boy are two different things. Actually, being interested is not the same thing as acting with/on someone, either.

So now he's in hot water and a lot of people are calling for his head.

Dr Cathy Kezelman, the president of Adults Surviving Child Abuse, said the comments were “outrageous”.

“The relational betrayal of the horrors of incest between a brother and sister of any age is abhorrently criminal,” she said.

If she's saying that two grown siblings are unable to consent to sex with each other, she's being ridiculous. If she's saying that is always wrong for someone to force themself on another person, I'm with her. That is why the word "incest" alone is not a good word to use, because it can mean either. Sex (consensual) should be referred to as consanguineous sex or consanguinamory. Abuse should be sexual assault by a sibling.

I would hope that the judge is right in juries refusing to punish people for (consensual) sex. I would hope juries would continue to send abusers to prison.

When Open Arms Have a Hidden Knife

A woman (whose interview is linked on this page), in responding to the conversation I published here, had this to say about her experience in dealing with family members’ reactions to her spousal-style relationship with her genetic brother...

This is just from my experience. But our mum for over a year hinted she knew about me and my brother...At one point she got into a conversation with me about an article she'd read about GSA and that she totally understood it. We still denied it. Then, one day, she phoned my brother and asked outright. Said she would understand and support us.

That was nearly two years ago. She hasn't spoken to us since.

She told other family members we were disgusting. Her loss. Didn't have her in my life for [decades] so no loss for me. But she bought my brother up and it’s him I feel for. Gotta say though, two of my sisters and a brother are totally cool with it. But as they say, they didn't know me until later in life so they see me more as an in-law.

At the start of my GSA relationship I was so frustrated because I was so happy in love and felt like bursting and shouting from the roof tops “I'm in love!” Experience has taught me to keep quiet and deny. I even had a girl at work come straight out and ask. She said she'd totally understand. But I've seen what the truth can do. It would be nice to confide in her, but I just don't trust.

If you’re an ally, please forgive people in consangiunamorous relationships if they don’t readily confide in you. There is so much hate (and in many places, criminalization), and as you can see, even people who supposedly love a person and say they’d understand can turn around the stab them in the back. So if you’re an ally, yes, it is good to tell someone you’d understand, that you support their rights, and that if they ever need to talk you’ll listen and protect their privacy. Just don’t be surprised if they keep that door shut.

Fortunately for this woman and her brother, they have each other (and some supportive loved ones). They are a beautiful couple, seem to me to have a great life together, and have a lot of enjoyment together. They get away to other places where they can walk hand-in-hand and kiss without drawing fire. The best revenge to being stabbed in the back is living a happy life well.

The Latest Example of Why This Blog Exists

When consenting adults have to hide their relationship due to lingering unjust laws and prejudice, they face issues as demonstrated in the conversation below.

You can read about Bonnie and her fiancé here. The woman (Anonymous) who starts the conversation is married to a man who happens to be here genetic father. Like Bonnie, this is a Genetic Sexual Attraction situation, meaning these men did not raise these women. These women were strongly attracted to the men in their lives and are happy with them.

Anonymous: So one of my old high school friends is starting to figure out [my husband in my genetic father.] Now I'm worried about her reaction to it.

Bonnie: My grandfather is doing the same. It's so annoying cause you want to tell them but you don't how they're going to react. Or if they really are figuring it out.

Anonymous: Exactly

Bonnie: My dad says that grandpa is picking on me like he used to his girlfriends. We are so confused.

Anonymous: Well she has been my friend for 9 years now, and I have wanted to tell her but couldn’t because of fright.

Bonnie: Yes, I understand.

Anonymous: I want her to figure it out so she will ask me about it.

Bonnie: Yes that's what we did with our one and only friend, other than our roommate, who knows. I think it's the best way because people who don't wanna know or are afraid to know usually do not ask so you know it's most likely the time you can admit it.

Anonymous: She keeps telling me to tell her what is going on and she will be open minded, but I still don't know.

Bonnie: Just wait until she asks. It's going to be safer in my opinion.

Anonymous: Well, my adopted family knows and hates me for it. They are trying to get our kids now and everything.

Can you imagine going through things like this simply because of loving another adult?

People in these relationships struggle. They struggle with keeping custody of their own children. They struggle with avoiding criminal prosecution and imprisonment. They struggle with persecution by neighbors, loss of employment, and ostracism by family and people who were supposedly friends. Why? For no good reason. These relationships should not be criminalized or discriminated against. They should not be stigmatized. They aren’t hurting anyone and should have their rights. They shouldn't have to hide who they are.

These people are why this blog is here... to help people get their rights.

BDSM and Poly

Conversio Virium is "Columbia’s BDSM, or kinky sex, education group." Devin Briski at The Eye had an extensive article about the group and BDSM, including about coming out. I’m not much into BDSM, but what drew my attention was that the article touches upon polyamory.

This sexual division of labor (if you will), along with an already non-normative outlook on sex and love, adds to a community where polyamory and multiple sexual partnerships is the norm.

Elle elaborates: “The way the dynamic in kink works in my experience is kind of like trying to make all the cogs on the gear and interlock it at once. You can’t do it—you’re going to get three or four at once, and that’s great, but you’re going to have all these unfulfilled desires, and the other person is going to have all these unfulfilled desires. If you can have four of these things that you love to do satisfied in your relationship with one person, and 3 in another, and another 4 in another, you’re ultimately probably feeling a lot more sexually and emotionally satisfied and fulfilled. Whereas if you’re sitting there going ‘God, just spank me already! Why don’t you want to spank me?’ all the time, you’re probably getting really angry.”

So polyamory and other ethical forms of nonmonogamy may help some of these people meet their needs

While non-exclusivity is widely practiced, it is by no means a rule. Devon says that until about a year and a half ago, he was a “serial monogamist,” and Elle describes her own complicated status: “I’m fundamentally monogamous but I’m dating, like, five people and they’re all polyamorous,” And though the complexity of polyamorous webs can facilitate more sexual and emotional satisfaction, it also brings new complications. Elle clarifies her status: “I’m dating one of them very seriously; it’s just that he has other girlfriends, so I thought ‘Well, if you can have other girlfriends, I want other girlfriends and boyfriends.’ If I were offered the opportunity to make this relationship monogamous, I would in a heartbeat.

So Elle isn’t strongly poly. Some people are strongly poly, some are strongly monogamous, and others fall somewhere between. It is up to them; they should always have that legal right.

Is Polyandry For the Birds?

Yes, polyandry exists in some species. Saying that only monogamy or only polygyny is "natural" clearly isn't true. But when I include reports of these studies, I caution that what happens in other species doesn't necessarily translate to humans. If three or more humans agree to a polyandrous relationship, they should be free to enjoy it without prosecution, bullying, or discrimination.

This comes from eurekamag.com and is titled "The characteristics and occurrence of cooperative polyandry"...

The relative position of cooperative polyandry among models for the evolution of polyandry and cooperative breeding in birds is discussed. Cooperative polyandry is described as the situation where 1 male and 1 female breed as a group with males sharing equally in copulation and the care of 1 set of young. Sequential and simultaneous polyandry are defined to show how they differ from cooperative polyandry. These systems generally are characterized by the care of only 1 parent for each set of young, a trait which is in sharp contrast to cooperative polyandry. The present models for the evolution of polyandry cannot be expanded to include the cooperatively polyandrous species. The cooperative traits of cooperative polyandry fit within the array of characteristics of cooperative (communal) breeding. General characteristics of all cooperative species (monogamous, promiscuous and polyandrous) are reviewed and possible reasons for the evolution of equal-status males are discussed. The unification of evolutionary models dealing with mating systems and cooperative systems is suggested.

Got that? There are different forms of polyandrous breeding and parenting, and the word "cuckold" wasn't used.

Smell, Body Odor, and Attraction

Shana Lebowitz wrote "The Biology of Body Odor," which has some relevance to the topics of this blog.

The biology behind body odor is pretty tricky, but it’s partially based on three types of glands that contribute to odors. Sweat glands exist all over the body and kick into gear when we exercise, become overheated, or feel anxious. Sebaceous glands are also found throughout the body and only start producing their oily liquid during puberty. Apocrine glands, located mostly in the armpit and pubic regions, and also start acting up around adolescence and can cause some serious stink. Steroids in apocrine secretions, especially the ones that come from the armpit, are some of the biggest culprits behind adult B.O. But — here’s a real shocker — sweat and other secretions don’t actually smell. Sweat, sebaceous, and apocrine glands secrete volatile organic chemicals, and odors arise when these “VOCs” interact with bacteria on the skin, in hair follicles, and in the mouth.

While it might be possible to avoid bad B.O. by steering clear of certain foods, how we smell is largely based on genetic factors.

Got that? There may be a pop quiz.

Body odor also has a lot to do with romantic attraction — beyond the fact that it’s a good idea to deodorize before a date. Sweat, skin oils, and other secretions release pheromones, molecules that help animals communicate. In humans, pheromones can convey important information about who’s a potential match — no OkCupid profile required.

Hey, no kidding. I love the smell of a woman, myself.

Women find high-testosterone odors more attractive when they’re most fertile, while men find fertile women smell sexiest.

These are broad generalizations, of course.

Back in the caveman days, our nostrils may have also helped us avoid incest. It’s still not clear whether family members can recognize each other’s smells, and people might only develop the ability once they hit adulthood. Some research suggests humans are especially skilled at sniffing out same-sex siblings.

It is possible that way back when, groups that did not experience the Westermarck Effect were more likely to be wiped out by disease. Life has changed much since then, but there are still people who do not experience a strong Westermarck Effect, at least not strongly enough to override attraction. We also tend to see that genetic relatives who aren't raised together may be strongly attracted to each other, and they often cite each other's scent as one reason why.

Reunited But Denied Equality Under the Law

By my count, this is the thirty-third ongoing relationship I've covered through exclusive interviews in which the lovers are denied the freedom to be open about their love and are denied the freedom to marry and have that marriage treated equally under the law.

"Bonnie" and "Clyde" are attractive, make a cute couple, and as you might have already figured out, have a great sense of humor. They are consenting adults with a passionate love for each other. Yet they face discrimination and prejudice for their love.

Read the interview below and ask yourself if there is one good reason these two consenting adults should be denied their rights or should have to hide the full, true nature of their relationship from anyone in their life.


*****

FULL MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Describe your background.

Bonnie: I am very young, but an adult. I have completed high school, and plan on going to college to be a cosmetologist in the fall. My hobbies are drawing, singing, and family oriented activities. I live in a state in the Great Lakes area of the USA. I have lived here all my life. I have two siblings; both I raised, one girl and one boy now the ages of 8, and 11. My family is my life… but I have a life none of them know about. I am secretly in a relationship with my biological father and I have been with him for over a year. I am the happiest I have ever been!

Clyde: So I am, as she puts it, her equal half (a little joke ‘cause me and her are so similar.) I am in my late 30s and work as a maintenance man. I was unable to finish high school because of the timing of my daughter being born (I do not blame her or her mother) it was just too much stress for me unfortunately. But I soon plan to get my GED. My hobbies are drawing, listening to music, being outdoors, cooking and enjoying my love’s company. I live in the same state and I have lived here my entire life as well. I am an only child but have always loved the idea of a big family. I have been extremely happy since we got together.