In a recent twist in Tennessee, a Republican lawmaker's push to uphold marriages between first cousins hit a wall. The state House came out strongly in favor of a bill to ban such unions, following a spirited defense by Representative Gino Bulso, who has a personal connection to the issue—his grandparents were first cousins. Bulso even proposed an amendment to allow cousin marriages if the couples underwent genetic counseling, but only he and another Republican voted against the ban.
Bulso, who has been vocal about his opposition to same-sex marriage and recently pushed a bill to ban LGBTQ Pride flags, argued against the cousin marriage ban, citing the 2015 Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that established marriage equality. He noted that while there is a slightly higher risk of birth defects for children of first cousins, it's not as significant as some believe, especially compared to the risk for same-sex couples, which is essentially zero.
However, Bulso's attempt to block the ban was cut short by a move to table his amendment. Responses to his stance were mixed, with some social media users ridiculing him, while others expressed disbelief at his position. Democratic Representative Antonio Parkinson, for example, described Bulso's efforts as "ballsy" and suggested he might "break the internet again."
Representative Gloria Johnson also criticized Bulso, noting his admission about his own grandparents being cousins. She called out what she sees as extremism, contrasting it with the state's overall character. Another Democrat, Claire Jones, used the situation as a platform for her campaign, urging people to support her bid to replace Bulso in the upcoming election.
As for Bulso himself, he declined to comment on the reactions to his actions, according to a response from his office. The bill has also passed in the state Senate, though it's unclear whether Governor Bill Lee intends to sign it into law.
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