Missouri Senator Defends Allowing 12-Year-Olds to Marry

Missouri State Senator Mike Moon, a Republican, has defended the right of 12-year-old children to get married during a debate about a proposed bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors. Moon previously spoke in support of children as young as 12 being allowed to marry if given parental consent. Democratic state Rep. Peter Meredith challenged Moon’s stance on allowing children to marry during Tuesday’s hearing. Moon later clarified on Twitter that he was referring to allowing children of similar age to marry with the consent of parents.