As House Bill Looms, KXLY addresses crisis facing boys and men in Washington State

Over the past week, Global Initiative for Boys and Men spent several days educating legislators and others on the status of boys and men in Washington State. KXLY (an ABC news affiliate) picked up on the issue and spoke with Representative Mary Dye who is sponsoring HB 1270: Establishing a Washington State Commission on Boys and Men. KXLY also spoke with Michael Gurian, internationally known author, counselor, and practitioner and founder of the Gurian Institute to address issues facing boys and men, something Gurian has been doing for over 30 years.

This story was on the heels of a visit to Washington State by Richard Reeves, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute whose book Of Boys and Men caught the attention of national press and legislators in Washington State who wanted to learn more about the data showing the troubling outcomes of boys and men in education, physical and mental health, jobs, and other areas of concern. Washington State is looking for solutions to a troubling trend, including a growing, unsheltered homeless population that is 64% male. Reeves spoke with legislators on both sides of the aisle about his book, the trends he discovered, and some real solutions.

House Bill 1270 is one of the most important pieces of legislation facing the nation, and it’s taking place in the Evergreen State. Creating the first state commission in the nation would be a real step forward and a recognition of the issues facing boys and men. As a growing opioid/fentanyl crisis, poor educational outcomes, and homelessness are creating serious challenges, legislators know this is a national problem and that all eyes are on Washington State and House Bill 1270.