Foster's Daily Democrat reports here that high school gymnast Ryan Chandler can't compete for points in state competitions because he's male, and there isn't sufficient participation in gymnastics by males to create a separate category for them. Chandler's coach Karla Underwood is quoted as saying, "I think it’s ridiculous...If it was the opposite way something would surely be done. We’ve been trying to get something done but nobody will listen." Coach Underwood also explains that while men do have some advantage in gymnastics due to their strength, women also have advantages over men in terms of flexibility and that the scale of the equipment is geared toward smaller women. Many thanks to Rams for sending this story our way.

gte910h writes "This is a editorial by Karen Selick of the Independent Women's Forum. It denounces a recent proposal in Canada to make women lawyers who are raising children be allowed to bill 20% fewer hours then other lawyers at a firm while being paid the same." And how about fathers who are raising children? Anyone who can't see the double standard in this must be blind. The title of this article, "Equal Pay for Less Work" also makes a very common sense argument against this.

The Rocky Mountain News reports here that Bob Rowan, the man who took down the male bashing art exhibit "Hung out to dry" from the Boulder, CO public library, is headed to trial. The artist who created the work, Susanne Walker, insists on pressing criminal tampering charges against him despite the fact that Rowan has received incredible public support for his actions. The article doesn't exactly paint Rowan as a saint, but it is fairly balanced quoting several people from both sides of the dispute.

This story in the Press Democrat reports on Joe Manthey, a men's rights advocate who has filed a lawsuit against his county board of supervisors for their support of the sexist, misandrist holiday for girls known as "Take Our Daughters To Work Day." The problem is that the local government is supporting this sexism with public funds. Manthey's attorney, Chris Ferry of Pleasant Hill, said public agencies cannot put on any event that excludes participation based on gender. "Nothing is more rewarding to a child than to see their mother or father do well in public and be recognized," Ferry said. "The way the county has this event set up, it is being denied to boys. You can't do that. It's discrimination." Contact the Press Democrat to show your support for Mantheny here

Neil Steyskal writes "The IRS rules currently contain at least six incentives for women to divorce their husbands. For example, he is taxed on child support even though she has the use of the money. Now, the national debate on pensions and Social Security reform is providing feminists with the opening to establish even more divorce incentives. Here's one."

Anonymous User writes "Time to raid the accounts of NCPs in Tennessee. This person is so ignorant of the true amount owed and where it actually goes it's appalling. No need to worry about the life of the [non-custodial parent], just raid raid raid. Please write this editor so that wrongs can be righted." In fact, the author of this editorial advocates the same backward beliefs about child support collection which have recently led other states to re-examine their systems. You may contact the editor here.

This Sunday, March 13 the New Hampshire chapter of the National Congress for Fathers and Children will be meeting in the Newington Town Hall starting at 7 PM. Among the agenda items are updates on the status of the NH Men's Commission Bill, as well as other pending bills related to ex-parte restraining orders, shared parenting, child support, and no-fault divorce reform. For more info contact Mike Genoulis at: geancfc@juno.com.

Uberganger writes "This is an article from The Ottawa Citizen, found via divorceport.com, written by Dave Brown, the Citizen's senior editor. It describes how Judge Jean-Francois Gosselin 'stepped away' from a preposterous DV case because the definition of violence is now too wide. The case ended with no further action, and crown prosecutors are now 'expected to exercise greater discretion'. It's a welcome touch of sanity in Canada's demented DV landscape." Thanks also to ronn for submitting this article.

disclaimer writes "The Hefty trash bag ad bashing men is back on the air for another run. I saw the 'men are trash' Hefty ad on the evening of Tuesday, March 5th on CBS. Even though we wrote letters of complaint about the commercial, it appears that Hefty didn't listen. I thought that those who wrote Hefty should know that Hefty has turned a deaf ear to us." Perhaps they need another reminder?

ronn sent us this link to an editorial by Mike LaSalle of Men's News Daily. LaSalle feels that "International Women's Day," March 8, has been co-opted by radical feminists to pursue their agenda and that a counterbalance is needed - an International Men's Day. LaSalle announces that this weekend, MND will restore some balance to the rampant statistical manipulations and misinformation that radical feminists have used to advance their agenda on days such as International Women's Day. Keep an eye on Mike's site.

In tonight's Mensactivism.org on-line chat we will discuss identity politics, which holds that only members of a particular group, such as women, can understand issues of importance to that group. (For an overview and critique of this political tactic, see Wendy McElroy's recent Foxnews.com column.) Join us at 9:30 PM EST tonight (3/6) in the MANN chat room.

Neil Steyskal sent us this Boston Globe editorial and writes "The Yates case is a good platform for pointing out the post-divorce psychosis that affects many men. Maybe creating this new term will raise the consciousness of reporters who find excuses for women's violence, but not for men's. In this column, Ellen Goodman comes close to recognizing this pattern." I almost fell of my chair when I read this editorial from Goodman. I've known her to be a misandrist belittler of men's rights in the Globe for as long as I can remember.

CJ submitted this story and writes "It's a slippery slope in MA for people accused of domestic violence. It is now a felony for aggravated assault, which sounds like a good idea, but in MA there are so many laws that view domestic issues in a 'a priori' (before the facts) manner that I feel that this is one step closer to martial law and will be used as new weapon to wreck havoc with men's freedom. Jane Swift is shameless in her attempts to stay in office... how long now before a shove turns into aggravated assault is in the eye of the vindictive family courts that are over-run with radical feminists."

SJones writes "Berlin is opening the first battered men's shelter in Germany. I found the article in Yahoo! Oddly Enough, which shows what they think of violence against men and men's issues in general. The article is here." The "Oddly Enough" section is reserved for "fringe" news stories, and it does say a lot about the public perception of abused men that this story was placed in this section.

This article in the Washington Post reports that a federal judge has struck down the U.S. Army's equal opportunity policy, which appears to have promoted women and minorities at the expense of white male officers. The Army's written direction to promotion boards that urges them to consider the "past personal or institutional discrimination" faced by women and minorities is unconstitutional because the policy does not order the board also to consider possible discrimination against white men, the judge found. This sounds like an important victory for Lt. Col. Raymond Saunders, who has fought this battle for the past three years.