California is currently one of only three states in the country — alongside Mississippi and New Mexico — that sets no minimum age at all for marriage, allowing a child of any age to be legally wed as long as a parent or guardian signs off. A bill designed to close that loophole for good just cleared a major hurdle in Sacramento, passing the state Senate on a unanimous 38-0 vote this past Wednesday.

  • Aatube@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    Not everyone supports a zero-exception approach. ACLU California Action has emerged as the primary organization opposing AB 1267, arguing in committee filings that an absolute prohibition unduly infringes on fundamental marriage rights and risks driving minors in difficult domestic situations further underground, KFI AM 640 reported. The group has historically resisted total bans on the grounds that they could disempower mature minors or pregnant teenagers navigating already complicated circumstances.

    what‽

    that’s the American Civil Liberties Union! it’s the biggest progressive advocacy group!

    yes, the article says the bill was amended to make “any minor marriage performed on or after January 1, 2027, [] legally prohibited but voidable at the option of the person who married as a minor, rather than automatically void” to address those concerns, but 1. the article also says there was a 2018 attempt with similar opposition and I doubt nobody thought of this solution then, so I don’t think this solution quelled the opposition 2. that seems to defeat the point where enacting a ban instead of the 2018 watered-down act’s mandated counseling would ban forced marriage! if the marriage becomes null then the parents would know the minor reported it, no?