Child Marriage is Legal in NC

AdvocacyVlog

Apr 8

In the United States, we tend to think of child marriage as a horrifying practice in less well-developed countries, certainly NOT a reality for children born in this country.

What if I told you that child marriage IS legal in the United States?

Did you know that North Carolina is tied with Alaska for the lowest legal age for child marriage in the United States? In both states, a 14 year-old-child can marry with parental consent.

The legal loophole in NC that allows this is called the “pregnancy exception.” If a 14 or 15-year-old child is pregnant and is applying for a marriage license, the state will investigate if the marriage is in the child's best interest (which seems insane even to consider).

If one parent consents and the state thinks it’s a good idea, then the marriage can happen.

If the child is 16 or 17, then the state doesn’t investigate the case.

So, in North Carolina, if a 14-year-old is sexually assaulted by an adult and becomes pregnant, instead of being charged with a Class-B felony, the r*pist can marry his victim with her parent’s consent.

These parents don’t want to deal with the stigma of a pregnant child and would rather marry her off to the man who assaulted her.

According to a study by the International Center for Research on Women, from 2000 to 2019, 93% of all marriage applications for children under the age of 18 in North Carolina were between an adult and a minor.

This study also found that North Carolina is becoming a destination “to take children who would be protected from child marriages in other states.”

There’s a short documentary on Hulu called “I Was a Child Bride: The Untold Story.” In it, adult survivors of child marriage in the United States talk about how they were forced to marry their rapists.

It is heart-wrenching to hear how the legal system and their own families failed to protect them. And, at the same time, it is powerful to see these women advocating to close legal loopholes like the one North Carolina has.

The law, at its best, promotes liberty and maintains a structure of protection for its citizens. And in this instance, at its worst, fosters a system that enables the exploitation of children.

I know it is difficult to read about this, just as it was difficult to write this. But, the point is, we have the chance to do something to change the law.

Currently, there are two bills in the North Carolina General Assembly that are attempting to close this loophole, House Bill 41 and Senate Bill 35. They were introduced in February 2021 and have been waiting for hearings in three legislative committees.

I am providing a link with the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the committees' emails and phone numbers. Feel free to contact your local representatives as well.

When you call or email their offices, you can say:

“Dear ________ (Lawmaker’s name),

My name is ________, and I’m from (City in NC). I am contacting ______ (Lawmaker’s name) office to ask you to support House Bill 41 and Senate Bill 35, which will change North Carolina’s minimum marriage age to 18. I ask that you prioritize closing the pregnancy exception loophole to protect North Carolina’s children.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

__________(Your name)”

Education - K-12 House Standing Committee

Chairs:

REPRESENTATIVE HUGH BLACKWELL (REP)

Main Phone: 919-733-5805

Email: Hugh.Blackwell@ncleg.gov

Legislative Assistant: Brooke Mason

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN A. TORBETT (REP)

Main Phone: 704-263-9282

Email: John.Torbett@ncleg.gov