Washington Initiative for Boys and Men
Advocating for improved outcomes for boys, men, and communities
In 2016, Washington voters passed Initiative 1491, the Extreme Risk Protection Order Law. An extreme risk protection order (ERPO) allows law enforcement to remove access to a firearm for someone who is exhibiting a behavioral … Read more
The nonprofit organization Partnership for Male Youth is led by medical and educational professionals who make this important point: As girls become teenagers, there is typically a transition from a pediatrician being their connection to … Read more
The graph below presents the ratio of the male suicide rate to the female suicide rate each year for the last sixty years in Washington state. A key takeaway: Men and boys haven’t always died … Read more
Spokane’s KXLY Channel 4 (an ABC affiliate) produced a video series dedicated to raising awareness about boys’ mental health and helping parents of sons. The Saving Our Sons series aired last year. This year, with … Read more
Dr. Orion Taraban is a licensed psychologist who specializes in men’s mental health and healthy masculinity. He caught our attention when we began seeing his teachings and advice packaged in five to ten-minute videos on … Read more
KING-5 News reporter Drew Mikkelsen asked Democratic leaders about House Bill 1270 during a media session on February 14, 2023. The 3-minute video below shows the complete responses from Representative Joe Fitzgibbon (D-West Seattle) and … Read more
A mom of two sons in Shoreline, Washington sent the message below to members of the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee, including the committee chair Representative Bill Ramos (D-Issaquah). She was expressing support … Read more
Blair Daly spoke with Billy Hetherington, the political director for Laborers Local 242, one of the largest unions of construction workers in Seattle. The two met in Tacoma while attending the Re-Wire Policy Conference, an … Read more