California bans child marriages starting in 2027 / In 32 U.S. states, it is still a legal practice

California becomes the 18th U.S. state to ban child marriages since 2018. Until now, children could get married if they had their parents’ consent and a judge’s approval, with no legal minimum age for marriage.

Survivors such as Brittany Bee and Sara Tasneem supported changing the legislation for years. Bee, who married at 17 to escape an abusive home, said that she ended up in another abusive relationship. Tasneem was forced to marry at 15 to a man nearly twice her age and became a mother at 16. Actress Stodden promised to continue the fight to protect children in all 50 states.