sexartandpolitics:

I honestly have no idea why I remember a Slate article from 2002, but What’s Wrong With Marrying Your Cousin? is fascinating.

Now a study by the National Society of Genetic Counselors says that having a child with your first cousin raises the risk of a significant birth defect from about 3-to-4 percent to about 4-to-7 percent. According to the authors, that difference isn’t big enough to justify genetic testing of cousin couples, much less bans on cousin marriage. […] “I tell almost ALL my correspondents who are considering expressing a more than casual affection for their cousin to remember a few important things,” [Aunt Kate’s advice column at cousincouples.com] writes. “The first one is that you already have a guaranteed, life long relationship that you will live with for a very long time. Don’t mess it up.”

Also, it’s legal in Canada.

chart via notthatkindagay:daysinboston:dreamsonfire:ewokgia

Yay, America.