'I married and had a baby with my first cousin
Angie Peang has been plunged into mourning after her husband Michael Lee tragically died from a drug overdose, following their romance that ignited when they "kissed in a closet" as kids. Angie, who had a baby with Michael, her first cousin and the son of her dad's sister, faced harsh judgement from their family who condemned their relationship. After being ostracised and labelled "disgusting" by relatives for their love affair, the couple, nevertheless, persevered. Tragically, car salesman Michael passed away just 14 months after their son Eric was born, reports the Mirror. In a recent heartfelt interview, a grieving Angie said: "There are other normal people out there who, like we did, just happen to find themselves in love with their cousin at a time and place where it's not popular or accepted. It helps me cope with Michael's death by sharing our love story. "I don't feel like I'm just one isolated, perverted weirdo. We get to be a part of this thing that's so big and out of the ordinary and so special and so rare." Angie and Michael took action to challenge the taboo around their relationship by launching a failed petition to legalise marriage among first cousins in Utah. Ultimately, they married in Colorado, where cousin marriage isn't prohibited, rekindling their childhood connection in 2018. Angie, who had children from a previous marriage, welcomed her son Eric with Michael in 2020, despite resistance from their family. Sadly, Michael passed away in July 2021, just 14 months after their son's arrival. This heartbreak has motivated Angie, at the age of 44, to advocate for the acceptance and legalisation of first cousin marriages throughout America. She and Michael hailed from a conservative Mormon community in Eagle Mountain, Utah, a mere stone's throw from Salt Lake City - under 40 miles away. Recent research by the University of Bradford in the UK, released in February, shows that babies born to first cousins face double the risk of inheriting recessive genetic disorders compared to those with unrelated parents, with a noticeable 6 percent versus the general 3 percent. These children are also more likely to confront speech and learning challenges and generally have poorer developmental progress. But according to Angie, an artist by profession, her son Eric was born perfectly healthy. Talking to Mail Online, she praised Michael for being an exceptional dad who cherished time with his kid, regardless of any societal judgement. Angie pointed out: "Because we didn't spend much time growing up together, it circumnavigated the incest taboo. Honestly, there were several factors that brought us together besides physicality. We had similar looks, character traits, and it felt natural and meant to be." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
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