California Bans Child Marriage, Protecting Minors From Forced Unions

SACRAMENTO — California has just banned child marriage.

Gov. Gavin Newsom Sept. 30 signed AB 1267 (Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz), which bans child marriage in the state of California.

The Governor signed the bill in his office with advocate Courtney Stodden, a survivor herself, whose parents allowed her to marry 50-year-old actor Doug Hutchison when she was only 16. The relationship, which Stodden characterizes as abusive and predatory, drew widespread public scrutiny. Since her divorce, Stodden has publicly struggled with chronic depression and suicide attempts, but has become a national leader in the fight against child exploitation. 

“Governor Newsom’s action today made clear to me and to survivors of child marriage everywhere that we should never have been expected to carry this burden,” said Courtney Stodden. “I’m deeply grateful to Unchained At Last and every survivor who fought to make this possible — California is a victory, but I’m not stopping here. I will keep fighting until children are protected from marriage in all 50 states.”

“The heart of this effort has always been the survivors,” said Assemblymember Gail Pellerin. “They told us what it means to be a child in a marriage you did not freely choose. They told us about coercion and abuse hidden behind the appearance of consent. They told us how difficult it can be for a minor to ask for help, find an attorney, leave home, or escape the very adults who are supposed to protect them. Because of them, California children are safer.”

The bill, sponsored by Unchained at Last and the Californa Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, Gov. Newsom signed today repeals provisions that allow a minor to enter into a marriage or domestic partnership with parental consent and sets the state’s minimum marriage and domestic partnership age at 18. Seventeen U.S. states have completely banned child marriage without exception.