Virginian lawmakers are considering a bill that would remove all exceptions to getting married before the age of 18, as reported by NBC4 Washington. This could make Virginia the 11^th state in the U.S. to completely ban child marriages.

Married and two kids at 17

Brigitte Combs was pregnant when she was married off at age 15, to a much older man she was set up for religious reasons by her mother. The marriage was legal – her parents signed the necessary documents. Being a mother of two at 17, she soon realized that this was not the life she wanted.

“I can’t go to my parents. I’m not old enough to file for divorce. I don’t even have a driver’s license.” – Brigitte Combs, survivor of and advocate against child marriage

She left her partner and was homeless at 18 and got divorced at 20. Today, she advocates for the complete ban on child marriage in Virginia.

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