Washington Initiative for Boys and Men
Advocating for improved outcomes for boys, men, and communities
The National Network to End Domestic Violence has long been a leading force behind U.S. domestic violence legislation, including the 1994 Violence Against Women Act and its renewals, most recently in 2022.
Washington-based counselor and author Ann Silvers says the mainstream belief that vastly more women than men are killed by an intimate partner — often cited as five or six times more — is based on a misinterpretation of a study from 2013.
This is a guest-written piece by William Singer, Ph.D., a Bellevue-based counselor and guardian ad litem who has been court-appointed to help families through conflict for nearly fifty years.
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.
Advocating effectively for men and boys in the public and political arenas requires more than just enthusiasm for the cause. It requires the strategic and thoughtful use of language and a demeanor that makes people think I like this person and I want them around rather than this person makes me nervous. Stanley Green of College Place, Washington demonstrated how it’s done when he spoke recently at a public meeting of the Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners.
With a combined 40+ years working in domestic violence services and prevention, Ward Urion and Dorsol Plants have unique and important perspectives to offer. A theme that emerged from our conversation is that domestic violence is more complicated than it is sometimes made out to be.
Plus: Legislature frowns on mutual protection orders, and marriage license fee goes up to fund domestic violence response programs