Gov Gavin Newsom called it a "long overdue measure to protect young Californians".

California has officially banned child marriage, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing legislation to end the practice that is still legal in 32 US states.

The new law, which will come into effect on 1 January, states people must be 18 to get married in the Golden State.

Newsom called it a “long overdue measure to protect young Californians and minors”. He signed the bill into law with Courtney Stodden, whose parents allowed her to marry a 50-year-old Hollywood actor when she was just 16.

  • 2hundredpancakes@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    6·
    3 days ago

    Between 2000 and 2021, nearly 315,000 children were legally entered into marriage across the U.S. The vast majority [86%] were girls wed to adult men.

    You’re right—only 4 in 5 underage marriages involve pedos. A fabulous argument for keeping it legal

    Source

    • dogslayeggs@lemmy.world
      11·
      3 days ago

      “86% were girls to adult men.”

      Now, in that 86% of marriages, how many of those girls were 17 and how many of those adult men were 18 or 19? Even a 20 year old marrying a 17 3/4 year old girl is not a pedo situation, though it is a situation that merits significant scrutiny.

      I don’t support allowing 16 year olds to marry. I am only replying to the idea that any marriage involving a 16 year old is a pedo situation. Even if every single one of your 4 in 5 involve men over 20 and girls under 17, that is still a significant number of marriages that do NOT involve pedos. Again, I’m not arguing for it being legal.

      • 2hundredpancakes@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        2·
        3 days ago

        Now, in that 86% of marriages, how many of those girls were 17 and how many of those adult men were 18 or 19?

        The source covers this, I highly recommend reading it. “An overwhelming majority – some 86% – were girls [aged 16 or 17], and most were wed to adult men an average of 4.02 years their senior.”

        I’m also not saying every situation is a pedo situation; just that problematic (safe to say, predatory) situations represent a too-large percentage. In many cases, these girls are groomed or abused for some time before marriage.