California has officially banned child marriage. Gavin Newsom, the governor of the state, has signed a law that ends this practice, which is still legal in 32 states across the U.S.
The New Law and Reasons for Its Passage
According to the new law, which will take effect on January 1, 2027, individuals must be at least 18 years old to marry in the state of California. Mr. Newsom described this law as "a measure to protect children and minors in California" that "should have been done a long time ago." He signed the law in the presence of Courtney Stodden, who was allowed by her parents to marry a 50-year-old Hollywood actor at the age of 16.
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Experiences of Child Marriage Survivors
Courtney Stodden, who advocates for the end of child marriage, called this change a "victory" and said that survivors of child marriage should never have been expected to "carry this burden." In 2011, she married Doug Hutchison, an actor known for his roles in "The Green Mile," "A Time to Kill," and "I Am Sam." This controversial marriage made headlines worldwide and led to their appearances on several reality TV shows in the U.S., including the series "Couples Therapy" on VH1.
Other survivors of child marriage also welcomed the new law. Britney Bee, who married as a child, said: "California has sent a clear message to the world today; a message full of hope for all children, that they can be freed from structural violence and choose their own paths in life." Ms. Bee married at 17 to escape an abusive home environment, but afterward, she claims her adult husband abused her.
History and Current Status of Child Marriage in the U.S.
The organization "Unchained at Last," which works to end child marriage across the U.S., reported that approximately 9,000 girls were married in California each year, and in nearly all cases of child marriage, girls were marrying adult men. Activists in this field say many people in the U.S. are not even aware that child marriage is legal in this number of states and are also unaware that such marriages have led to claims of abuse and exploitation.
Sara Tasnim, who says she was forced to marry a man nearly twice her age at 15, said it is "incredible" that California has finally acknowledged the necessity of banning child marriage. She stated that since 2017, she has personally lobbied lawmakers to achieve this goal. Sara Tasnim said: "The process of passing this law to reach a result has been like a marathon. I'm just glad that starting January 1, 2027, children in California will no longer be able to marry."
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