Healthcare Committee Chair: 'We Want Young Men Productive, Happy'
'It's about giving people opportunity,' said Rep. Dan Bronoske during a recent town hall. Plus: Dapper men on motorcycles riding for a cause.
Ridin’ Vintage and Lookin’ Sharp, for a Good Cause
The annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) and the Movember organization have cooperated since 2016 “to bring people together and change the face of men's health.” This year the DGR is on Sunday, May 18.
Participate in the ride or show your support for the riders by making a donation of $10 or more. Funds go toward prostate cancer research and supporting men’s mental health.
Newcastle resident Tod Anderson has dressed up for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride each year since 2022. This year he’ll do the Seattle-East ride that typically starts and ends in Redmond. In Washington there are rides that begin in:
Seattle - East, North, and South
Everett
Tacoma
Richland
Spokane
Says Tod, regarding his motivation for joining the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride:
Men die on average six years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons. The number of men that are suffering is growing, and we need to do something about that. So, before I press my tweed and polish my boots, I'm asking you to join me in raising funds and awareness for these causes by donating what you can for this meaningful cause, to help the men we love live happier, healthier lives.
Another local booster of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is Travis Harth. Last November, the Seattle Kraken honored Travis as one of their Heroes of The Deep for his many years of fundraising to support men’s health initiatives.
Way to go Travis and Tod!
‘We Want Young Men Productive, Happy’ - Rep. Dan Bronoske
During a recent telephone town hall event hosted by the three lawmakers representing district 28 (Lakewood, Dupont, JBLM, University Place), a caller asked state representative Dan Bronoske a question about uplifting struggling boys and men. In Rep. Bronoske’s response, he emphasized his commitment to ensuring Washington’s government is adequately paying attention to issues affecting the male population.
I am confident that once the budget is in a much better spot we can immediately address these issues that are afflicting young men and boys as soon as possible, because it is urgent.
Listen to Rep. Bronoske’s 4-minute response in the video below, or read the transcript.
A firefighter and veteran of the Army National Guard, Rep. Dan Bronoske (D-Lakewood) has been in the legislature since 2021. He currently chairs the House Committee on Health Care and Wellness.
During the recently-concluded 2025 legislative session, Rep. Bronoske co-sponsored a bill put forth by Rep. Mary Dye and Sen. John Lovick to create a commission on boys. This was the fourth year lawmakers introduced a bill of this kind. As in prior years, it did not receive a hearing in the House or the Senate. But the trend continued where each year more representatives and senators are signing on as sponsors of the bill (24 legislators in total this year: 14 Ds, 10 Rs).
In January, during a meeting of the Health Care Committee, Rep. Bronoske took a moment to acknowledge the incarceration, addictions, and suicides that Washington’s male population are suffering. I wrote about that and showed the video of his comments in this article:
‘Empathy is not a zero-sum game’
Below are highlights from Rep. Bronoske’s comments during the town hall on April 2:
“There are disparate impacts currently facing young men and boys in society and certainly across the United States of America.”
“Empathy is not a zero-sum game.”
“This is something where a rising tide lifts all boats, and in this instance we want young men to be productive, happy members of society that contribute to the greater good. And there are things that we need to focus on where young men are falling behind, to lift them back up, to help them along. It's about giving people opportunity.”
“I believe that a commission on men and boys could be helpful to look at some of the things that could be contributing to those disparate impacts.”
“I am confident that once the budget is in a much better spot that we can immediately address these issues that are afflicting young men and boys as soon as possible because it is urgent.”
Advocates with Washington Initiative for Boys and Men have had constructive conversations with the two other lawmakers representing district 28 beside Rep. Bronoske: Sen. T’wina Nobles and Rep. Mari Leavitt.
If you can pitch in financially to support WIBM’s advocacy, please become a paid subscriber for $6 a month or $70 for the year.
Dates announced for 2025 national gathering of at-home dads
This year HomeDadCon will be in San Antonio, Texas on September 11 through 13. I’ve heard good things about this event from Gerard Gousman, a dad in West Seattle. (See “Seattle Dad of Four Boys Featured in New York Times Article about At-Home Dads”)
