California Bans Child Marriage, Requiring Individuals to Be 18 Years Old

California has officially banned child marriage, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing legislation that will require individuals to be at least 18 years old to marry in the state. The new law is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, according to ndtv.com.

The move makes California the 18th U.S. state to implement a ban on child marriage since 2018. Despite this development, the practice remains legal in 32 other U.S. states, according to reports from the BBC and ndtv.com.

Governor Newsom Calls Measure "Long Overdue"

Governor Newsom described the newly signed legislation as a "long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors," as reported by ndtv.com and the BBC. He formally signed the bill alongside Courtney Stodden, a prominent advocate against child marriage. Stodden was 16 years old when she married a 50-year-old Hollywood actor.

Stodden, who has actively campaigned for an end to the practice, characterized the legislative change as a "victory." She stated that survivors of child marriage "never should have been expected to carry this burden," according to ndtv.com. Looking ahead, Stodden also indicated her commitment to "keep fighting until children are protected from marriage in all 50 states."

Stodden's marriage to actor Doug Hutchison occurred in 2011. Hutchison is recognized for his roles in films such as The Green Mile, A Time to Kill, and I Am Sam. Her marriage sparked international headlines due to the controversy surrounding it and led to her appearances on various U.S. reality television programs, including the VH1 series Couples Therapy, ndtv.com reported.

Experiences of Child Marriage Survivors Highlight Impact

The ban has been met with relief by those who have experienced child marriage. Brittany Bee, identified as a former child bride, conveyed to the BBC that California has "sent a clear message to the world today." She further elaborated that this message is "a message of hope for all children that they may be free from systemic violence. That they may choose their own path," according to ndtv.com.

Bee shared her personal story with the BBC, stating she was wed at the age of 17 in an attempt to escape an abusive home environment. However, she subsequently alleged that she was abused by her adult husband. "I was just going from one prison to another," Bee explained, adding a critical perspective on consent: "People have the audacity to tell me that I made a choice - kids, they can't consent," ndtv.com reported.

Child marriage survivors, including Bee, have dedicated years to advocating for the prohibition of the practice in California and across the wider United States, according to ndtv.com.

Another survivor, Sara Tasneem, who says she was compelled to marry a man nearly twice her age when she was 15, expressed to the BBC that it felt "surreal" to finally see the state acknowledge that child marriage should be banned. Tasneem stated that she personally began lobbying for this legislative change in 2017.

"I was forced to be his wife and that day, my entire life changed," Tasneem told the BBC, as reported by ndtv.com.

Tasneem became a mother at the age of 16 and consequently dropped out of school. She recounted that she met her husband on the morning of their marriage when she was 15 years old, according to ndtv.com.

"To have seen the arc of this bill come to fruition has been a marathon," Tasneem said, reflecting on the long process. She added, "I'm just grateful that kids cannot get married after January 1, 2027 in California," ndtv.com reported.

Historical Context and Ongoing Advocacy

Historically, approximately a decade ago, child marriage was legally permitted across all U.S. states. However, a growing number of states have since moved to alter their laws, with California's ban marking a significant step as the 18th state to do so since 2018, according to ndtv.com.

Prior to this new legislation, California did not have a specific legal minimum age for marriage. Children were permitted to marry provided they had parental consent and a judge's approval for the nuptials, ndtv.com reported. Furthermore, the state lacked a legal mechanism for individuals under the age of 18 to obtain a divorce. This absence, according to many girls, left them vulnerable and trapped in what they described as abusive and predatory relationships.

Unchained At Last, an advocacy group actively working to end child marriage throughout the U.S., estimates that around 9,000 girls were married each year in California. The organization also indicated that nearly all child marriages involved girls marrying adult men, according to ndtv.com.

Advocates in this field often point out that many people in the U.S. are largely unaware that child marriage remains legal in numerous states, or that it has frequently led to allegations of abuse and exploitation, ndtv.com reported. The passage of this law in California represents a notable victory for these advocacy efforts and sets a precedent for other states.