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PA State Rep Holds Up “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” Resolution

09/23/09-by pghlesbian
Western Pennsylvania Republican House member Darryl Metcalfe (R- Cranberry Township) stymied fellow politicians and advocates around the state when he balked at a “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” resolution because of a perceived underlying “homosexual agenda.”

The measure, introduced as H.R. 105 to acknowledge October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is a frequent non-controversial practice.  Metcalfe’s opposition stems from language that identified men as victims of domestic violence, without noting the gender of said perpetrators.  He viewed this an underlying acknowledgement of gay male relationships, refusing to acknowledge that men in opposite sex relationships are victims of domestic violence.  From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Metcalfe has no intention of apologizing. He is still bothered by language of the resolution that included men among victims of domestic violence and rape.

The resolution states that “one in four women and one in every nine men will experience domestic violence” and that “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,” the resolution says.

“When’s the last time you heard of a man fleeing in the middle of the night, with his children in tow, fearing for his life?” Metcalfe asked. “I think they are doing a great disservice to women.”

Metcalfe’s reasoning flies in the face of statistical evidence and his own history of voting for the same resolution in years past.  Could we see a connection to the “family values” battle looming over state marriage equality bills and Metcalfe’s reelection as the spokesperson for white-wedding Christians everywhere? 

Metcalfe also voted to oppose increasing marriage license fees and dedicating that revenue to domestic violence resources.  The fee will increase from $3 to $28, with the additional $25 going to a fund to support domestic violence survivors. Metcalfe’s objections stemmed in part from the funneling of the money to a fund supported by the Department of Public Welfare, rather that the court system.

However, Metcalfe also claims this particular measure is “a slap in the face to family values.”  Presumably, contributing money to potentially protect same sex partners who are in abusive relationships goes against his family values. 

The Resolution will be reintroduced.  The funding measure passed without Metcalfe’s vote.  Keystone Progress is calling for an apology. Gay rights advocates, domestic violence advocates and others are calling for someone to challenge Metcalfe’s for his seat.

What the bloggers are saying.

2 Political Junkies (Pittsburgh) But my favorite moment for this “God, Guns & Gays” Republican occurred on PCNC’s Night Talk program. Metcalfe said on the show that he “chose heterosexuality.” (If only the host had asked him what he was before he chose to be heterosexual…)

The Gaytheist Agenda Pennsylvania is famous for its pretzels, and State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R, Idiot) has a pretzel for a brain. What else could explain such convoluted thinking?

Your Cranberry.com (Metcalfe’s district, northern Pgh suburbs) This is outrageous. Metcalfe is an extremist, fringe Republican homophobe who is a close ally of Sen. John Eichelberger who said earlier this year about gays and lesbians: “we’re allowing them to exist.” How warped are his family values?

Young Philly Politics   The Pennsylvania Dim Bulb Award
This week’s winner: Butler County Republican Daryl Metcalfe for his opposition to a resolution naming October Domestic Violence Awareness Month because he claimed it “had a homosexual agenda.” The part he couldn’t handle? The fact that one in 33 men are rape survivors or have been subjected to an attack. Again, for the bullhorn, that’s rape – not consensual sex. Those of us in the immigration movement recall Metcalfe’s other dim bulb honors, particularly his 2007 hysteria filled “Invasion PA” report where he claimed that the arrest of people with supposedly Hispanic sounding last names was evidence of a growing criminal illegal population.

The Pittsburgh Women’s Blogging Society  Commenters decry his lack of compassion for anyone experiencing physical, emotional or sexual assault.

 

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