A Utah couple claims that they’re in love, but they can’t get married. Unfortunately for them it’s illegal to marry your first cousin in the state.
Michael Lee and his wife Angie tied the knot in Colorado where it is legal to marry.
“It’s like second grade ,I remember, I stopped her mother– I stopped her– I said I’m going to marry Angie, and she said ‘no I’m sorry you can’t but you can be friends,'” Lee told KTVX.
Michael said, “Life was unfair. Like why did the person I want to be with the most … Why did you have to be my cousin?”
The couple reunited after 10 years this winter. They both recently became single and were ready to take the plunge.
“We’re like, okay this is crazy, but we’re adults now, we’re single now, we’re just going to go for it… who cares what our family thinks,” Angie said.
First cousins who have children together, face a four to seven percent chance of their child having a genetic disorder as opposed to a three to four percent chance for an average couple, according to KTVX.
The second hurdle is the law. In Utah, it is illegal for first cousins to get married unless they are 65-years-old, or 55-years-old if they can prove they are infertile.
Michael said as soon as they crossed over the state border into Utah they’re not married anymore.
“No one I’ve ever been with will make me feel as perfect as she does. Her being my cousin, and some of the responses is a small price to pay,” Michael said.
And you wonder what’s wrong in America, lots of things, this is just one of many.