'It's a human rights abuse': Dems reintroduce legislation to end child marriage in Michigan

[RandySF]

Calling it an “archaic practice” and a “human rights abuse,” Democrats in Lansing this week reintroduced legislation to end child marriage in Michigan.

State Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) and Rep. Kara Hope (D-Holt) on Thursday held a press conference to announce a package of 10 bills that would prohibit any marriage involving a child younger than 18.

Currently in Michigan, 16- and 17-year-olds can get married with parental approval, while anyone younger than 16 can get married with the approval of a parent and a judge, with no minimum age requirement.

“Marriage before the age of 18 can have some pretty disastrous impacts on the health and safety and well-being of young people,” said Anthony, who noted that people signing a contract are required to be at least 18. She said it should be no different for entering into a matrimonial covenant.

“Something as serious as the institution of marriage should not be done by force, should not be done because of financial benefit or, in many instances, sexual abuse and emotional abuse, but should be done by two consenting adults who are taking the next step and hopefully for a lifetime, building a life together.”



https://michiganadvance.com/2023/03/18/its-a-human-rights-abuse-dems-reintroduce-legislation-to-end-child-marriage-in-michigan/

[SheltieLover]

1. Excellent! 👏👏👏👏

[Thomas Hurt]

2. but, but, but then christofascist moral scolds can't use it to try to cover up for their own kids

premarital sex embarrassments. What will they do?

[TreasonousBastard]

3. It's both, and more. A remnant from when most people lived to less than 30.

[Tanuki]

4. Really horrible situation for the children trapped in these marriages.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.woodtv.com/news/target-8/i-do-at-14-michigans-secret-child-marriages/amp/

..." Target 8 found out how the secret is so well kept. The records are sealed. The state hides the identities of the bride and groom. Even with Ann and her husband’s name, Target 8 couldn’t get a copy of their marriage license. Only the husband and wife can unseal the record, and they have to do it in person.

The majority of Michigan’s underage marriages, 84 percent, involve girls marrying adult men. It took a Freedom of Information Act request to discover some teen girls are marrying men three times their age. One record listed a 15-year-old bride and a 48-year-old groom.
...
At 14, she was pulled out of school and stuck at home to fill what she called “wifely duties.” "I didn’t know how to cook and he wanted me to be a certain way that I couldn’t be,” Ann said, breaking down into tears.

She said she was punished for being a “bad” housewife.
“He was very particular. His socks had to be folded a certain way. His everything had to be just so,” she said. “If he was mad and I bumped into him, he might punch me or something.” She said he even threatened to kill her.
...

She was too young to drive or have a job.

“You need the money, you need the help, you need everything and you really appreciate everything you get,” she said.".....(more)

[roamer65]

5. Definitely love our new Democratic legislature in Lansing.

Another good law.

[tavernier]

6. I was raised in Michigan

and I remember several girlfriends who were groomed by older men and wedded to them in junior high school with the full permission of family. I remember feeling horrified because I couldn’t even imagine kissing a guy in his twenties, let alone older.

[femmedem]

7. My dad was seventeen and my mom was eighteen when they married.

They lived in Illinois but crossed into Kalamazoo to elope. They remained happily married until my dad's death in 2018.

Not saying the legislation is a bad idea or that most marriages that young don't work out as well as my parents did, but it's not always awful, either. She wasn't pregnant, either. They just knew that they'd found each other.