Governors Speak Out on Urgent Need to Lift Up Men and Boys

PRESS RELEASE

Robert D. Thompson

1-301-801-0608

Governors Speak Out on Urgent Need to Lift Up Men and Boys

WASHINGTON / February 13, 2025 – Last week Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, gave a state of the state speech in which he highlighted the problems and challenges facing men and boys in his state. Gov. Moore’s speech highlighted a range of concerns:

“And it’s not just that in Maryland, labor force participation for young men is nearly the lowest it has been in two decades.

“It’s also that suicide rates among men under 30 have risen by more than a third since 2010.

“Across the country, college attainment levels are the same now for men and boys as they were in 1964.

“And Maryland still sends youth under the age of 18 to our state prisons at twice the national rate.

“The data is telling us a clear message: We need to better understand and address what’s happening with our men and boys.” (1)

Moore concluded by promising, “I will be directing my entire administration to begin implementing targeted solutions to uplift our men and boys.” (2)

In response, lawmakers in attendance expressed their support with repeated rounds of applause and even a bi-partisan standing ovation. (3)

In addition, two other governors are making their own efforts to lift up men and boys:

Gov. Ned Lamont of Connecticut, in his state of the state address, stated, “We’re doing outreach to get more men into teaching. Statistically, boys are more likely to be the disconnected youth. A few more male mentors in the classroom – and coaching – just might help.” (4)

Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah has created a Task Force on the Wellbeing of Men and Boys to find solutions to help Utah’s men and boys lead flourishing lives. (5)

Nationwide, data reveal disturbing disparities in 12 areas such as: (6)

Education: In 2022, 6.57 million male undergraduate students, compared to 8.82 million female students, were enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions,
Health: Men face a lifespan gender gap of over five years: Males: 74.8 years and Females: 80.2 years,
Victims of Violence: Men are far more likely to be victims of homicide than women. In 2023, the FBI reported that 13,789 male victims were murdered, compared to 3,849 female victims.

SAVE calls on all governors to establish a Commission on Men and Boys, similar to the one currently being debated in Washington State: HB 1266 and SB 5446. (7)

SAVE – Stop Abusive and Violent Environments – is a 501(c)3 organization working to assure due process, fairness, and equal opportunities for men.

Links:

News and Commentary