| Recognizing a Problem: Domestic Violence |
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Resolution to recognize October as DV Awareness Month
Conservative Republican, Rep. Metcalfe, blocked State Representative John J. Siptroth's HR105 recognizing October 2009 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
A simple resolution to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, was halted by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Republican representing Butler. Why? Because he said, "it has a homosexual agenda."
No, I'm not making this up. Here is the rest of the quote from his remarks on the House floor, objecting to the resolution: "I protest, this is not non-controversial, and if you read the language it has a homosexual agenda."
On the same day, also on the House floor, he made matters worse. The House was about to vote on increasing marriage license fees from $3 to $28, with the increased amount going to a fund for victims of domestic abuse. Metcalfe opposed the measure, calling the funding of domestic violence programs "a slap in the face to family values." The bill passed despite his outrageous claim.
Rep. Metcalfe clearly has a problem with preventing domestic violence in Pennsylvania. He also has a problem with LGBT people and other minorities trying to assert and protect their rights.
We say "Enough of Metcalfe's bigotry and ignorance!" Join people from all over Pennsylvania who demand that he allow a vote of the resolution recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month and demanding that he apologizes for his insensitive remarks.
Domestic violence is a serious problem that needs our attention and the support of our state legislators. According to the resolution that the House was considering:
* One in every four women and one in every nine men will experience domestic violence in his or her lifetime.
* One in six women and one in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed rape.
* Approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in the United States.
* Thirty percent to 60% of perpetrators of intimate partner violence also abuse children in the home.
* Intimate partner violence results in more than 18.5 million mental health care visits each year.
* The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services.
Regards,
Stephen Washington
CHIEF OF STAFF
State Representative John J. Siptroth
189th Legislative District of Pennsylvania
Serving Monroe & Pike Counties
Telephone: 570-223-2636
Facsimile: 570-223-5694
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