Washington Initiative for Boys and Men
Advocating for improved outcomes for boys, men, and communities
The legislation to create a Washington Boys & Men Commission passed the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations by a 5 to 2 vote on Friday, January 30. Watch the 2-minute video.
Directors of nonprofit organizations, representatives of labor unions, medical doctors, a school district superintendent, and several grassroots advocates testified on January 23 at a historic public hearing for legislation to create a Washington boys and men commission. View the full 37-minute public hearing.
On Friday January 9, Representative April Berg (D-Mill Creek) introduced House Bill 2401 establishing the Washington boys and men commission. It garnered a total of 19 Democratic sponsors and 1 Republican sponsor, Rep. Michelle Valdez. On Tuesday January 13, Representative Mary Dye (R-Pomeroy) introduced House Bill 2461 establishing the Washington commission on boys and men. It garnered a total of 18 Republican sponsors and 0 Democratic sponsors.
“In the dust of that little chair, what has become of our Little Boy Blue?” A guest contribution by Terry Oxley, retired Army officer and a past Board Director of USO Northwest and the Washington Youth Academy Foundation.
Plus: dads talk about their babies, advocacy support from Eastside Democrats, an upcoming conference on What Boys Need as Males, and photos of our outreach.
“I told my coach I had no desire to play college football, and I actually had every desire to be ‘Twinkle Toes’. I walked out of that office feeling so empowered.”
In public hearings earlier this year, advocates with Washington Initiative for Boys and Men explained to state legislators why we oppose encoding the term “gender-based violence” into state law.