Child Marriage Survivors in Ohio at center of the fight
Survivors of child marriage are urging Ohio lawmakers to close what they call a dangerous legal loophole. Currently, a gap in state law still allows minors to marry under certain conditions. However, two new bills could change that. And right now in Ohio, survivors voices are at the center of the debate. By sharing their experiences, they are pushing hard for lawmakers to act.
“This should never have been allowed”
Stephanie Lowry was forced into marriage at 16 after becoming pregnant. She recalled feeling like she had no real choice. Sadly, Lowry is not alone. Her story reflects a broader pattern: young people, often girls, pushed into legally sanctioned relationships with adults.
And survivors say the harm often doesn’t end with the forced marriage itself. Many describe being coerced into marriage, too young to understand or escape. Advocates and survivors together underline that these marriages can mask and enable forced labor, exploitation, and abuse. And in the worst cases, even shield perpetrators from statutory rape laws.
Cleveland shares the testimony from Dana VonAllman, who was handed over to a 35-year-old man when she was in ninth grade by her mother:
When that marriage license is approved, you are sentencing that child bride to a life of sexual servitude and abuse, or worse. She will have no right to object, to ask for help, to file for divorce, or to file rape or assault charges.
Lowry agreed:
The moment the judge signed the license, the state of Ohio and my mother washed their hands of me. I became a wife, and my 19-year-old husband became my legal guardian, responsible for my safety, my decisions and my financial support.
Once married, many are cut off from education and support systems. Further, they often become financially dependent on their spouses. That makes it difficult to leave. Critically, minors in these marriages often cannot independently file for divorce or access shelters. All these factors effectively create a legal trap, where leaving an abusive situation becomes nearly impossible.