If you are concerned about the laws where you are or where you're considering moving, it would be a good idea to see if the laws of that location are searchable online and to consult an attorney who specializes in family or criminal law for that jurisdiction. An experienced lawyer can tell you about how often a law is enforced even if it is still in effect, and might be able to point out ways someone could make it less likely they'd ever be prosecuted.
Some states have laws still on the books that have been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The only reason to still have those laws is a deranged hope that the Court decision will eventually be reversed.
Unmarried sex or cohabitation, interracial relationships, same-sex relationships, certain sex positions, even using contraception or sex toys have all been illegal in some places in the US. It might seem shocking, but it is true.
As the show "Sister Wives" detailed, Utah had been the last state to enforce a law against polyfidelity, or at least saying more than one person is your spouse. We're not even talking about insurance coverage or anything like that. Simply saying that you have more than one spouse has been illegal. It's outrageous, but true.
When it comes to consanguinamory, confusion ranges from "I thought it was illegal everywhere for cousins to have sex" to "There are no laws against consenting adults having sex, no matter how closely related." Both statements are false.
The fact is, first cousins are incarcerated for having sex in a handful of US states. But about half of US states will allow first cousins to legally marry (and the list of states isn't what stereotypes would have you believe), although some of them have some restrictions. That leaves many states where where they can have sex, live together, raise children together, but can't legally marry. Outrageous, but true.
As far as relatives closer than that, in general, 47 states have laws against relatives closer than first cousins having sex. Ohio allows siblings to be together. Rhode Island and New Jersey have no laws against adults being together, no matter how closely related. Some other states apparently haven't criminalized sex between adults and their uncles or aunts (outside of old, overturned laws that criminalized unmarried sex, given that these people weren't allowed to marry.)
None of the states will knowingly allow relatives closer than first cousins to legally marry, with certain exceptions in certain states for uncles and nieces, for example, mostly a nod to traditions from foreign cultures. Traditions are not respected, however, when it comes to having more than one legal spouse.
Note that these criminalization laws and laws denying marriage rights tend to apply to genetic ("blood") relatives even if they were legally adopted to different families and never met until well into adulthood.
Some states may have relied on criminalization of homosexuality (which was overturned) and thus might not have anti-incest laws that technically criminalize same-sex consanguinmory. Laws can get very specific, outlawing certain sex acts but not others between certain people. Yes, as silly as it sounds, some specific sex acts that don't harm anyone have been illegal in some places.
The patchwork of unjust laws needs to be changed. There shouldn't be anywhere in the US (or any other country for that matter) where consenting adults are denied their basic rights to have a mutual relationship that includes whatever form of sex they want to have, living together, and, if they want, marriage, or any other union or partnership offered under law. Nobody should fall in love and then worry that if they move for a job they won't be able to marry in their new state or might even be criminals.
There's no good reason to deny these rights. In the US, it should be obvious that legal precedents have determined that such discrimination is unjust and unconstitutional. But people are understandably confused as many unjust laws are still enforced.
Ciao! I just responding to this (good) article of yours as I wanted to acknowledge your mention of Ohio allowing sibling relationships.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to include that situation as either fully allowing ACI or not..i.e. I would feel embarrassed to say "of the 9 nuclear-armed countries, 7 countries plus 2.5 of the 50 US states do not make ACI a crime. It is me that is at fault. Another matter is that I contacted one of the researchers in the 'Bennett study' and he wrote back seemingly indicating he was aware of the unfair situation for CIAO people. He directed me to an article if his that was critical of the 1970s Czech study methodology which seemed to exaggerate the numbers negatively affected by close-kin reproduction. Best.
A very good and useful post. I would like to make a few additional considerations.
ReplyDelete1. You are absolutely right when you point out that people who enter into "non-traditional" sexual relationships very often do not bother to find out the legal risks they are exposed to, as well as their rights to sexual acts, marriage, and having children. And this leads to additional stress or to surprises when they are reported to the authorities by fanatical law-abiding citizens or their relatives, confused by official propaganda.
2.Consanguinamorous people should seriously assess any risks and choose to live together in the state (country) where their relationship is least criminalized by law. Unfortunately, lovers are extremely careless, they do not know how to hide their relationship, and this leads to tragedies - mental disorders and even death.
3. It is said that the severity of the laws is mitigated by the rarity of their application. In the case of consanguinamory, we have just such a case. I am sure that the frequency of sexual and romantic relationships between blood relatives is much higher than official sources and high-profile trials of violators of official laws that are not related to physical and moral violence indicate.
As a rule, all cases of "incest" that get into the mass media are cases of violence against minors and violation of their rights, which is certainly disgusting and should be punished with all severity.
What conclusion should we draw?
We have the full natural right to love any person, to enter into a sexually romantic relationship with any adult without resorting to moral and physical violence, to have children with them and to marry them. However, until society is ready to accept most of these types of relationships, we must soberly assess our risks and those of our partners, act prudently, wisely, and be able to hide our relationships. And even lie if necessary and if it does not lead to real moral or physical harm to third parties (I mean, first of all, infidelity in committed relationships with other partners).
My first exposure to consang relationships was in middle school or so when a brother - sister couple were persecuted in Massachusetts, where I lived. I couldn't understand why their wanting to be together was such a big deal. It's been over forty years and I still remember how puzzled I was. Part of that may have been because my being on the Autistic spectrum meant I didn't automatically absorb a lot of social guidelines. I still wonder what happened to them.
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