Republican Tennessee Representative Gino Bulso’s attempt to keep marriage between first cousins legal resulted in failure as the state House voted overwhelmingly to ban cousin marriage. Bulso, who had first cousin grandparents, defended the practice and even proposed an amendment that would allow it with genetic counseling. However, only he and another Republican voted against the ban. Bulso argued against the ban due to the lack of significant birth defects in offspring of opposite-sex first cousins compared to same-sex first cousins, citing the Obergefell v. Hodges marriage equality ruling.
His speech was cut short by a Democratic Representative, and the bill passed in the state Senate. The response to Bulso’s actions was met with ridicule on social media, with some praising his boldness while others condemned his views. The governor’s response to the bill was not clear.
Overall, critics viewed Bulso’s actions as extreme, with some calling for his replacement in the upcoming election. His office declined to comment on the reactions to the bill. The incident has brought national attention to Tennessee’s cousin marriage laws and sparked controversy and debate on social media platforms. Bulso’s attempt to defend the practice has made headlines and reignited discussions about marriage laws and personal beliefs.
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