Judge: W.Va. shelter rules biased against men
By: P.J. DICKERSCHEID
Associated Press
10/08/09 10:15 AM PDT
Excerpts:
"The West Virginia legal challenge is among a growing number of battles being waged across the country by groups that allege state laws requiring gender-neutral programs are skewed by discriminatory rules and regulations that embrace gender biases. 'We're not trying to belittle women who are abused, we're trying to raise awareness" that men are also victims,' said Marc Angelucci with the National Coalition For Men who secured a similar court victory in California last October. An appeals court there invalidated parts of that state's Health and Safety Code and Penal Code last year, saying they were unconstitutional because they excluded men from programs and services supported by nearly $22 million in taxpayer money each year"
"One of the biggest changes, though, has been to increase awareness of men as victims, Angelucci said, pointing to a 2001 study by the Centers for Disease Control that showed women are just as likely as men to commit domestic violence."
"The West Virginia legal challenge is among a growing number of battles being waged across the country by groups that allege state laws requiring gender-neutral programs are skewed by discriminatory rules and regulations that embrace gender biases. 'We're not trying to belittle women who are abused, we're trying to raise awareness" that men are also victims,' said Marc Angelucci with the National Coalition For Men who secured a similar court victory in California last October. An appeals court there invalidated parts of that state's Health and Safety Code and Penal Code last year, saying they were unconstitutional because they excluded men from programs and services supported by nearly $22 million in taxpayer money each year"
"One of the biggest changes, though, has been to increase awareness of men as victims, Angelucci said, pointing to a 2001 study by the Centers for Disease Control that showed women are just as likely as men to commit domestic violence."
