For gay Wisconsin couples, a CA marriage could be a criminal act

Wisconsin law criminalizes gay marriage, but is okay with marrying your first cousin.

“America’s Dairyland” (aka Wisconsin) is so opposed to gay marriage that in 2006 they changed their constitution to specify marriage could only be between a man and a woman. Combine this with a decades old law making it a criminal offense to get married across state lines if the marriage would be considered illegal at home, and you could have a lot of outlaw gay farmers on your hands.

While the law was passed decades ago to prevent underage couples from crossing state lines to marry it could be used against same-sex couples the Madison Capital Times reported Wednesday.

The penalty is a fine of up to $10,000, nine months in prison, or both. [from 365Gay.com]

Oh, Wisconsin. Not a big fan of the gays, but their marriage laws provide some hope for those who want to keep it in the family. From the Milwaukee County Clerk’s Marriage License Brochure:

No marriage shall be contracted between persons who are nearer of kin than second cousins, except that marriage may be contracted between first cousins where the female has attained the age of 55 years or either party has documented proof of sterilization.