Republican New Hampshire State Consultant Jess Edwards is dealing with backlash for defending baby marriage and referring to underage teenage women as “ripe” and “fertile” throughout a debate on a invoice to lift the age of marriage within the state from 16 to 18. Regardless of objections from Edwards and others, the invoice handed by a vote of 192-174. Edwards acknowledged that utilizing the phrase “ripe” was inappropriate however refused to apologize to his critics, dubbing them “haters” and stating that he didn’t need to encourage such habits.
Edwards defended his stance on baby marriage as “pro-choice,” drawing a parallel along with his assist for abortion rights and funding social providers. He argued that leaving marriage as an choice for youngsters was a part of advocating for people to make selections for themselves. Edwards identified his position in amending New Hampshire’s 24-week abortion ban to incorporate exceptions for circumstances involving the lifetime of the mom and deadly fetal anomalies, which he claimed was extra permissive than many different states and international locations.
The Republican lawmaker described marriage below 18 as a part 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 selection of marriage for younger people, suggesting that their ban on underage marriage eliminated bodily autonomy and subjected younger girls to the legislature’s whims. Edwards portrayed his critics as management freaks who had been extra excited about pushing pregnant girls in direction of abortion moderately than supporting marriage.
Whereas the invoice to lift the wedding age in New Hampshire has handed in each the Senate and the Home, it’s unsure whether or not it should change into legislation. Governor Chris Sununu beforehand raised the age restrict in 2018, however underage marriages are nonetheless authorized within the majority of U.S. states, with solely 12 states explicitly banning baby marriage. Maine can be the one state within the Northeast to allow marriage below 18 if the New Hampshire ban is carried out. Edwards had additionally expressed frustration at media protection, claiming that articles didn’t precisely signify his views and omitted his anti-transgender stance, which he argued was “professional lady.”
Total, Jess Edwards stands by his place on baby marriage, portraying it as an extension of his pro-choice beliefs and advocacy for particular person decision-making. Regardless of dealing with criticism for his remarks and refusal to apologize, Edwards stays steadfast in defending his views and difficult the established order on underage marriage laws in New Hampshire and past. The controversy surrounding his feedback highlights the complicated intersections of non-public beliefs, legislative selections, and societal norms within the ongoing discourse round marriage legal guidelines and reproductive rights.