Kentucky state lawmaker and former Survivor winner Nick Wilson recently had to quickly withdraw a proposed measure that would have inadvertently legalized sex between first cousins. Wilson, a Republican representative, expressed his hope that the misstep would not undermine the goal of combatting familial abuse. The incident was described by Wilson as “frustrating” and “embarrassing,” as the legislation’s subject matter made the mistake particularly sensitive.
The initial bill introduced by Wilson sought to remove first cousins from the list of incestuous relationships prohibited by Kentucky law. However, swift backlash followed after a New York public defender and fellow Survivor alum, Eliza Orlins, criticized the proposal on TikTok. Orlins emphasized the importance of speaking up and using their voices to influence local politics. Wilson subsequently acknowledged his mistake and admitted to unintentionally omitting first cousins from the incest law definition.
Wilson swiftly took action to correct the mistake, withdrawing the measure and filing a revised bill that includes “sexual contact” in the definition of incest. The reintroduced bill also adds incest to the violent offender statute. Wilson reiterated that the purpose of the corrected bill is to address the issue of familial and cyclical abuse that affects generations of Kentuckians.
In response to the scrutiny he received, Wilson expressed his hope that the attention would raise awareness about sexual abuse within family homes. He shared that the overwhelming support he has received from foster parents and survivors of sexual abuse has been far more impactful than any feelings of embarrassment or frustration he experienced during this process.
Wilson, who previously served as a public defender, ran unopposed for the Kentucky state house in 2022. As a two-time contestant and winner of the reality TV show Survivor, he hopes to make a positive impact through his legislative work. Despite the initial misstep, Wilson remains committed to combating familial abuse and is confident that the corrected version of the bill will receive a fair chance.
It is worth noting that many US states, including Kentucky, prohibit marriages between first cousins, while others allow such unions with certain exceptions. Kentucky defines incest as sexual intercourse or contact with a person known to be closely related. Wilson’s revised bill aims to address this issue and protect Kentuckians from familial abuse.
In conclusion, Kentucky state lawmaker Nick Wilson faced criticism and had to withdraw a proposed measure that unintentionally legalized sex between first cousins. However, he quickly rectified the mistake by redefining incest and adding it to the violent offender statute. Wilson remains dedicated to combatting familial abuse and hopes that the attention he received will raise awareness about sexual abuse within families.