Lauren Van Wagoner

#mogov #moleg #missouridems

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This org also gave a shout out to Trump on his immigration policies during his last term. #moleg

The worst part is that numerous orgs and well known Dems continue to support an org that treats survivors so poorly. #moleg

On Tuesday I testified in the Missouri house with 3 of my children in attendance. After the hearing, the organization Unchained at Last became snippy with me because I asked if they had a second to speak. They humiliated me, a survivor, in front of my children and other survivors.
#moleg

Rep Josh Hurlbert will only support the legislation if there is a military exception. That’s right, he supports child marriages for military members. #moleg #mogov

Missouri Republicans Speaker Pro Tem, Rep. Chad Perkins, supports child marriage. #moleg #mogov

HB 1200 will be coming to the floor soon as it was voted out of the house rules committee. I will be starting a thread here of which Republicans do not support the legislation to end child marriage. #moleg #mogov

HB 484 has been introduced to the House Committee for Children & Families. We oppose this legislation as written. It provides an exception for emancipation minors. #moleg

HB 1200 passed out of the Children and Families committee today. #moleg

Call To Action: #moleg contact Senator Jill Carter’s office and request that SB 66 be placed on the senate calendar.

As someone who lives in MO. I watched the Mo house refuse to take up this legislation last year b/c they had approximately 20 legislators who support child marriage & they didn’t want them taking the vote in an election year.

My mother forced it. I’ve spoken to many survivors. Often it is religious related. For example, I was Mormon. My mom said we had to keep my adult boyfriend from getting excommunicated after we broke the law of chastity. It became my job to save his salvation.

As a survivor of child marriage, I wish people would stop giving attention to a certain organization that has gone out of its way to silent the actual survivors of child marriage.

I’m not going to fund an org that is choosing to push the far right agenda and giving those who support the agenda an elevated position. #moleg

In the last week I’ve witnessed them trying to fundraise on statements form Senator Moon. I will send my money to local politicians who are actually fighting the good fight against people like Moon. #moleg

It’s come to my attention over the last several months that this org has a reputation for doing this kind of thing. They tend to push out survivors and fundraise on their stories. They only show up when they think a bill will pass. #moleg

Meanwhile this org has been taking a far right #moleg Republican politician to speaking events in other cities.

Since then, I have been pushed out of advocating in #moleg. I’m a survivor who lives here.

I refused. I snapped. No org that claims to support survivors should ever tell them how to tell their story. #moleg

This org decided to host a press conference to help push the legislation forward. It was during this time that they told me I needed to change my story. #moleg

At first they were supportive of me. At the time I was sitting on their survivor board.

Last year the primary non profit for Child Marriage Survivors stepped in to “help” pass child marriagea legislation in #moleg.

I couldn’t finish college due to life circumstances, but I now earn more than I likely would have with a degree. The trucking industry saved me. I don’t drive, but I have an office job in the industry.

SB66: Modifies provisions relating to the age of marriage
Last Action:
- Prefiled
- 2024-12-01
Sponsors:
- Tracy McCreery (D) district SD-024
More Info: https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=449

SB 66 has been prefiled for 2025! Let’s end child marriage in Missouri! #moleg

Do you think chile marriage should be legal? I am genuinely curious.

Actually the bills are being proposed on behalf of survivors like myself. We are asking the government to ban child marriage because we lived it and we know how harmful it is. We are trying to improve lives not score political points for either party.

I can confirm. We passed the legislation in the senate with one senator voting against. The house had rumored 20 GOP legislators who supported child marriage so the legislation was stalled in the house. They didn’t want to vote in favor of child marriage in an election year.

As a survivor of child marriage I hear a lot of “but my grandma married at 16.” Planned Parenthood has also opposed legislation to end child marriage in states like California.