Virginia Governor Signs Bill Banning Child Marriage

Axios reports:

Virginia has become the first state in the South to ban child marriage. Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill this week that closes a loophole in state law allowing minors to marry if they’re emancipated.

Only 11 other states in the U.S. have made it illegal for children to marry without exceptions, according to Unchained at Last, an advocacy group that helps girls get out of forced marriages.

Nearly 8,000 Virginians under the age of 18 got married between 2000 and 2021, according to marriage certificate data compiled by Unchained. The youngest was 12, and more than 80% were girls.

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🎉🎊Virginia is now the 12th U.S. state to ban #ChildMarriage!🎊🎉

Last night @GovernorVA signed legislation championed by Del. Karen @Keys_Gamarra to make the marriage age #18NoExceptions! #12Down38ToGo #EndChildMarriageVA #EndChildMarriageUSA pic.twitter.com/T1ST8q959d

— Unchained At Last (@UnchainedAtLast) April 9, 2024

Brigitte Combs lives outside of Richmond and said she came to the Virginia state capitol when she heard legislators were discussing the issue of minors and forced marriage. Taking a deep breath, she told them that decades ago in Texas she had been married at 15 years old to a…

— Virginia National Organization for Women (NOW) (@VANOWChapter) April 4, 2024