WE DID IT!
Dressed in bridal gowns and chains, we and our allies gathered at the Connecticut State Capitol Friday to urge Connecticut senators to pass HB6569, the simple, commonsense bill that would end child marriage in Connecticut – and we promised to come back every day until the end of the legislative session, unless they passed the bill. And it worked!
Following our Chain-In, we sat in the senate chamber, still in gowns and chains, and watched the senate finally vote UNANIMOUSLY to end child marriage. !!!
The house passed the same bill a few weeks ago, to eliminate a human rights abuse that destroys girls’ lives. Which means the bill we have been promoting since 2017 to make the marriage age 18, no exceptions, now goes to Gov. Ned Lamont.
And Lamont has promised to sign it.
With passage of this bill, championed by Rep. Jillian Gilchrest and bipartisan legislators, Connecticut will become the ninth U.S. state where our relentless advocacy has helped to end child marriage. (We are doing everything we can to make sure Michigan soon becomes the 10th state.)
Speakers at the Chain-In included:
- Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, legislative champion
- Rep. Sarah Keitt, legislative champion
- Sen. Mae Flexer, legislative champion
- Jenn Bradbury, child marriage survivor
- Fraidy Reiss, Unchained At Last
- Becca Powell, Unchained At Last
Our Chain-In drew the attention of legislators, passersby and news media, including the Associated Press, NBC Connecticut, Fox News, Connecticut Mirror, The Hartford Courant, CT Insider, WTNH News8, CT News Junkie, The Messenger and more.
