Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to prevent child marriage, raising the minimum age for a person to consent to marriage to 18, officials announced.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation to prevent child marriage and protect minors.

The bills raise the minimum age for a person to consent to marriage to 18, according to Whitmer’s office.

“Keeping Michiganders safe and healthy is one of my top priorities, and today’s bipartisan bills will build on our efforts to protect young people—especially young women—from abuse,” said Whitmer. “As a county prosecutor, I went after those who used their power to prey on young people, and as governor, I am proud to sign legislation to strengthen protections for children and survivors into law. Together, we can make Michigan a safe, welcoming state where you can grow up and pursue your potential.”

  • @Smacks
    17•1 year ago

    It wasn’t illegal in the first place?!

    • TurtleJoe
      17•1 year ago

      Lol, it’s legal in the vast majority of states.

      As of July 2023, ten states have banned underage marriages, with no exception: Delaware (2018),[3] New Jersey (2018),[4] Pennsylvania (2020),[5] Minnesota (2020),[6] Rhode Island (2021),[7] New York (2021),[8] Massachusetts (2022),[9] Vermont (2023),[10] Connecticut (2023)[11] and Michigan (2023).[12]

      It’s especially super cool when parents marry their underage teenage daughter to her rapist, and then he becomes her legal guardian. I’ll let you guess which major political party overwhelmingly supports this.

      • @nelly_manEnglish
        3•1 year ago

        Not only is it legal in most states, it’s actively kept legal. It’s not just some old, irrelevant law that only exists because people haven’t noticed.

        E.g., here’s an exchange from Missouri a few years ago where a state senator references an attempt to end child marriage.

        https://youtu.be/9H6UJ-uCrgc?si=hihhxIuOJl7N9ror