Connecticut must act to end child marriage
The legislature has set a number of reasonable restrictions for persons under the age of 18; you can’t enter into binding contracts, you can’t rent an apartment, you can’t join the military, you can’t buy a gun, nor can you vote. Yet in Connecticut, if you are aged 16 or 17, you can get married with parental consent and a judge’s approval.
In 2017, Connecticut banned marriage for 15 years of age and under, but that law did not go far enough, stopping short of banning it for 16- and 17-year-olds. Since Connecticut acted, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts ended child marriage, and Vermont has legislation pending to outlaw it.
Today, we stand alone as the only state in the tri-state area that allows someone under 18 years of age to marry. It is time to finish what we started and join our neighboring states.
It is critical that we close the loophole that allows someone to venue shop for marriage in our state. Connecticut’s law allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to marry makes our state a destination for those who seek to skirt child marriage prohibition in surrounding states as Connecticut does not have a residency requirement for marriage.
Similarly, it can make it easier for human traffickers to prey on children and potentially evade criminal responsibility by marrying their victims. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families reported that since 2008, over 800 children have been referred to DCF as possible victims of domestic minor sex trafficking.
Fortunately, there is now a bill in the State Legislature — House Bill 6569 — which proposes to increase the legal age to marry to 18 and eliminate the ability for minors ages 16 and 17 to marry, without exception.
As chair of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls, the council tackles issues that impact the lives of women, girls and their families. The council has fully vetted this issue and is in full support of this legislative measure. And there are many reasons to strongly support the passage of House Bill 6569.
First, this issue disproportionately affects young women. According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, between October 2017 and May 2022, 31 minors were married; 28 of whom were girls. We’ve heard powerful stories of girls who were trapped or coerced into marriage, some forced to marry complete strangers or men three decades their senior.
There’s the story of Jenn Bradbury, who was 16 years old when she was brought from Louisiana, where child marriage is illegal, to Florida and forced to marry a 44-yearold man. Florida permitted marriage with parental consent and a judge’s approval. Her husband forced her to drop out of high school and was emotionally abusive to her and her children. She became depressed and suicidal. Unfortunately, Jenn’s story is not unique.
By allowing child marriage, we deprive children of their childhood — and their future. Many of these children that are forced into marriage are unable to finish high school, attend college, and have autonomy over their decisions. In addition, the divorce rate of marriages with a minor is close to 80 percent, which puts women at a greater likelihood of living in poverty.
Next, there is no escape for those forced into child marriages that result in physical and mental abuse. In fact, they are left in legal limbo. Because of their young age, they are trapped with no legal recourse. When minors seek to get divorced, they cannot retain a lawyer as they must be at least 18 years of age to sign a legal retainer. As a result, minors are unable to receive the legal protections or benefits that come with marriage that an adult who is 18 years of age receives. Not only are they not equally situated to a married adult, but this legal limbo further traps young girls by adding yet another insurmountable burden for them to bear.
This is a bipartisan issue. House Bill 6569 is supported by Democrats and Republicans alike. It is now up to our legislators to do the right thing and finish what we started.
Under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, numerous countries, including the United States, have promised to end child marriage by 2030. But Connecticut must act now. We cannot wait any longer. The future of our children depends on it.
By allowing child marriage, we deprive children of their childhood — and their future.