They say love knows no bounds. Think of all the greatest love stories out there – Romeo and Juliet, Noah and Allie, Rose and Jack, Kim Kardashian and her selfie camera...the lists go on and on.
Our world is full of ups and downs, but one thing remains. Love. Songs, movies, books are written about it and it's something we all experience. Whether it be a longing romantic love or the deep familial bond kind of love, it's all around us all of the time.
And then there is the type of love that blends the two I just mentioned and you're left scratching your head thinking, "Huh?"
Now, I'm not trying to judge love. Love is love. Have I said love enough times already? But for real, love who you want! But falling in love with your first cousin and petitioning to legally marry them?
Well, that's certainly an interesting and different type of love.
People fall in love every day.
Love makes the world go round and all that. Who doesn't love love?To all my fellow romantics, can I get an amen?
The world can sometimes feel like a cynical, negative place so what's the harm in celebrating romance? It's been around forever!It's something that colors thousands of years of poetry, art, and life.
But here's a bizarre situation for you to think about.
What if you fell in love with your first cousin? Yikes, right? There's bound to be a few issues with that.Well, that's exactly what happened to a Utah couple.
The couple aims to get 1,000 signatures on the petition.
First cousins in love with each other petition to get legally married in Utah https://t.co/E8EYUcTLGy https://t.co/DQMolVy0wF— CBS News (@CBS News)1551891635.0
As of Wednesday, the couple has 145 signatures and counting.
“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… https://t.co/hsCqlukM8d— Josh Breslow (@Josh Breslow)1551907448.0
Peang spoke to CBS News about how the pair fell in love.
Love is love. 🧐 https://t.co/1G3Fn8trys— Anthony Kladitis (@Anthony Kladitis)1551907354.0
Lee told Peang's mother that he planned to marry her when they grew up.
@CBSNews Sounds about white !!— Куииα∂ι💖 (@Куииα∂ι💖)1551891754.0
Peang reflected about that particular event.
I can't see why people think this is cute https://t.co/MQcRSIfmsR— Keya (@Keya)1551907183.0
Both Peang and Lee were married to different people.
The Lannisters send their regards. https://t.co/yvXO3lJKUJ— Allen Wallace (@Allen Wallace)1551907161.0
Cousins Rekindled
The cousins hadn't seen each other in a decade but reconnected at their grandmother's house last year over the holidays.The love and connection was still there.
@CBSNews I saw Utah and was like...oh okay... https://t.co/f5ngXLhL3x— Pilot Jones 👁 (@Pilot Jones 👁)1551891915.0
They feared what their family would think.
"It was really scary to think about how our family would react because they are conservative Mormons... we thought we might be excluded," Peang explained.Predictably, the couple got mixed reactions to their declaration of love.
@CBSNews https://t.co/48DACSTQlx— ChibiBerserker (@ChibiBerserker)1551895625.0
But Peang's two elder daughters are weirded out by it and feel that it's not okay.
Cousins in love petition to be able to marry in Utah https://t.co/FbjhZhLAe7 https://t.co/CK1fy07y4X— NBC4 Columbus (@NBC4 Columbus)1551906958.0
The cousins found a hiccup in their journey to the altar.
Wedding bells are ringing...
"I am officially a married man with a bright future," Lee wrote.
"I am completely ecstatic about finally being married to my Angie."Most states do not allow marriage between first cousins.
SHOULD COUSINS MARRY? A Utah couple is petitioning for the right to get married. They say their love shouldn't be l… https://t.co/1QXjDI8K2P— KALB News Channel 5 (@KALB News Channel 5)1551906636.0
Say what?
Even though they're married, Peang and Lee want the law changed so their love isn't stigmatized. "We hope to spread awareness about our situation, and we hope with this awareness and education we can shift people's perspectives," Lee said told CBS News."It really isn't something they should be afraid of or against," he continued.
These first cousins say, they've always been attracted to each other... but because of laws in their home state, th… https://t.co/4tBI9pE8DJ— HLN (@HLN)1551906046.0
Marie B. from Florida doesn't care that they're cousins.
"Love is love. Everyone in love should be able to marry. Besides who cares if they are cousins," she wrote on the petition website.Rand R. from Nevada is also very supportive.
"Cause there are not brother different mom and dad it’s ok to get married," Rand wrote.
Pamela S. posted that she is currently in love with her cousin.
@CBSNews https://t.co/8HhveH7nKN— clover 🇺🇸🇺🇸🍀☘️🇮🇹🇮🇹 (@clover 🇺🇸🇺🇸🍀☘️🇮🇹🇮🇹)1551892771.0
"Me and my cousin are in love and have been since we was kids. We want to get married," she wrote.
Tonya L. from Kentucky posted that she's in the same situation as Peang and Lee.
@CBSNews https://t.co/swDQ5SligO— Emilie W. (@Emilie W.)1551893352.0
"Im currently with my first cousin and live in Kentucky, we are dealing with same thing, its not fair, you love who you love," Tonya wrote.
Despite the polarizing relationship, the signatures are rapidly increasing.
@CBSNews Yuck!! https://t.co/cYPobEj6Ma— Lost in LA (@Lost in LA)1551894094.0
It's quite the discussion.
First cousins who crossed state lines to get married want laws changed https://t.co/GSYLcPcKin https://t.co/foFBkYWw4o— New York Post (@New York Post)1551900581.0
Regardless of your own personal opinion on the matter, it seems that Peang has found a good number of supporters, and of course, some haters.
Ummmmmm, no thanks. https://t.co/iXK4Jcy5s5— Michelle Tessaro (@Michelle Tessaro)1551909853.0