Republican New Hampshire State Representative Jess Edwards is facing backlash for defending child marriage and referring to underage teenage girls as “ripe” and “fertile” during a debate on a bill to raise the age of marriage in the state from 16 to 18. Despite objections from Edwards and others, the bill passed by a vote of 192-174. Edwards acknowledged that using the word “ripe” was inappropriate but refused to apologize to his critics, dubbing them “haters” and stating that he did not want to encourage such behavior.
Edwards defended his stance on child marriage as “pro-choice,” drawing a parallel with his support for abortion rights and funding social services. He argued that leaving marriage as an option for teenagers was part of advocating for individuals to make decisions for themselves. Edwards pointed out his role in amending New Hampshire’s 24-week abortion ban to include exceptions for cases involving the life of the mother and fatal fetal anomalies, which he claimed was more permissive than many other states and countries.
The Republican lawmaker described marriage under 18 as a component of “freedom of bodily autonomy and self-determination” for couples pursuing life, liberty, and happiness. He criticized the Democrats for opposing his stance and eliminating the choice of marriage for young individuals, suggesting that their ban on underage marriage removed bodily autonomy and subjected young women to the legislature’s whims. Edwards portrayed his critics as control freaks who were more interested in pushing pregnant women towards abortion rather than supporting marriage.
While the bill to raise the marriage age in New Hampshire has passed in both the Senate and the House, it is uncertain whether it will become law. Governor Chris Sununu previously raised the age limit in 2018, but underage marriages are still legal in the majority of U.S. states, with only 12 states explicitly banning child marriage. Maine would be the only state in the Northeast to permit marriage under 18 if the New Hampshire ban is implemented. Edwards had also expressed frustration at media coverage, claiming that articles did not accurately represent his views and omitted his anti-transgender stance, which he argued was “pro woman.”
Overall, Jess Edwards stands by his position on child marriage, portraying it as an extension of his pro-choice beliefs and advocacy for individual decision-making. Despite facing criticism for his remarks and refusal to apologize, Edwards remains steadfast in defending his views and challenging the status quo on underage marriage legislation in New Hampshire and beyond. The controversy surrounding his comments highlights the complex intersections of personal beliefs, legislative decisions, and societal norms in the ongoing discourse around marriage laws and reproductive rights.
