Children Can Wed in Georgia, but Not Adult Same-Sex Couples

Same-sex couples can’t marry in Georgia, but children can, as long as they have unprotected premarital sex and conceive a child.

This nearly forgotten Georgia law came to light last week when a 37-year-old woman was arrested for having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy. The woman had wed the boy several days before, under a law allowing a minor to wed, without parental permission, if the couple is expecting. Now, the woman’s lawyer says he will try to use the marriage to prevent the boy from testifying against the woman.

While this law is vile unto itself, it becomes even more so when one realizes that a year ago, Georgia passed a consitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Among other things, the protection from testifying against a spouse is denied to lesbian or gay partners. Someone who molests and then marries a minor, however, may be protected from his/her victim’s testimony.

The law seems to fall into that category of ancient statutes few knew were still on the books–but at least one woman claims to have written to her lawmakers about it after her 13-year-old niece wed a 14-year-old boy last year. One might at least hope that Georgia lawmakers will quickly strike it. Early reports indicate, however, that the Republican majority is dragging their feet on changing the marriage requirements, saying they will focus instead on stricter child molestation laws.

Georgia law also requires parental notification before a minor has an abortion. Children are apparently not able to handle that decision on their own, whereas the decision to marry takes less mature thought.

What was that about sanctity, again?