Worse, North Carolina seems to be attracting child marriage tourism as Kentucky and other nearby states improve their laws. I grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, not far from Mr. Reisinger’s office. Married girls are 50 percent more likely to drop out of high school and much less likely to finish college. Passing that legislation would have recast North Carolina as a national leader in the fight to end child marriage, as only five states have done to date. It was legislators, not organized opposition, who were the primary obstacle, clinging to dangerous and unsubstantiated views on underage marriage.

Source: International New York Times June 15, 2021 20:37 UTC