[UPDATE] re: Boys and Men's Commission update and related VA news!
HB11 passes + some positive Virginia boy/men updates
HB1188 passed both House and Senate!
From today’s press release from sponsor Delegate Josh Thomas:
Richmond, VA - Today, the Virginia General Assembly passed Delegate Josh Thomas’s HB1188 and Senator Lamont Bagby’s SB447, which will establish the nation’s first permanent state-level Boys and Men Advisory Commission. This commission will study and provide legislative recommendations to the General Assembly on issues related to boys and men in the Commonwealth, including education inequity, economic opportunities, disparity in health outcomes, family life, and the impact of social media use. Passing the House by a strong bipartisan 91-6 vote margin, the bill is headed to Governor Spanberger for signature.
Unfortunately, the problems faced by Virginia’s men and boys continue to grow. Virginia lags the nation as the worst state for literacy disparity between 4th grade boys and girls. Further, men accounted for 80% of suicides in Virginia last year. Given the urgency of these issues, the commission will produce its first legislative report in October of this year. The bills’ chief co-patrons are Senator Lashrecse Aird, Delegate Michael Feggans, Delegate Nicole Cole, Delegate Michael Webert, and Delegate Jason Ballard.
Delegate Josh Thomas (D-Prince William) issued the following statement:
“Young men are in crisis, and with this vote today, we can finally tell them that Virginia is here to help. Boys are falling behind as early as elementary school, and that disparity in educational, health, and economic outcomes is continuing into adulthood. I’m proud that my fellow legislators recognized that this problem requires long-term, evidence-based solutions. I look forward to seeing Governor Spanberger sign this bill so that we can move past studies and start making real change.”
Delegate Michael Feggans (D-Virginia Beach) issued the following statement:
“The passage of HB1188 in the House today is a major win for our communities, giving the Commonwealth the research-driven insight needed to expand opportunity, close gaps, and build a stronger future for boys and men across Virginia.”
Delegate Nicole Cole (D-Spotsylvania) issued the following statement:
“As a mom of 3 young men and an opportunity advocate, I’m excited for this Commission to focus attention on addressing opportunity gaps and needs of boys and men to be successful and empathetic members and leaders in our communities.”
Delegate Michael Webert (R-Fauquier) issued the following statement:
“This bill is the Commonwealth’s acknowledgment that the burdens men and boys have long carried in silence need not break them, and that the Commonwealth recognizes the need for support.”
Delegate Jason Ballard (R-Giles) issued the following statement:
“I am pleased that this effort to ensure that boys and men have the support they need to grow into healthy, responsible adults passed the House of Delegates today in a highly bi-partisan manner.”
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In this issue:
Virginia’s Boys and Men Advisory Commission update
Center for the Study of Boys gathers Richmond boys/men leaders
Choros: App for male friendship (Alexandria founded)
Dads for All: Community building for dads (Fairfax based)
Masculinity researcher seeks VA participants
National updates — good news! — re: men’s issues
Legislation to establish a Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission is one of a host of bills in the crosshairs of a House–Senate budget standoff despite sailing through committee and floor votes with little opposition. Final vote is expected within the next week or so.
Reminder of the impact of this legislation:
Virginia’s Boys and Men Advisory Commission could be the country’s first such body that is permanent, written into state code, and independent of the governor.
HB1188 enjoys bipartisan support, including an endorsement from House Speaker Don Scott, while its companion bill SB447 is sponsored by state Democratic Party chair Sen. Lamont Bagby. HB447 is co-sponsored by Sen. Lashrecse D. Aird (D-Petersburg) while HB1188 co-sponsors are:
Del. Jason S. Ballard (R-Giles County)
Del. Nicole Cole (D-Henrico County)
Del. Michael B. Feggans (D-Virginia Beach)
Del. Michael J. Webert (R-Fauquier County)
Del. Jackie H. Glass (D-Norfolk)
Lead sponsor Del. Josh Thomas (D-Prince William) was the subject of a well-deserved Virginia Public Media profile (audio and written):
Virginia stands to be a national and even global leader in men/boys policy, programs and research on a critical issues that affects its whole population — let’s hope the general assembly sees the opportunity and passes HB1188!
Virginia is already being looked to as a national leader on boys and men’s issues. Next week I will be speaking to an organization in the United Kingdom about male-specific policy reform and have been invited to consult with several national organizations on how to attract and retain men and boys.
The following are some of the cool men/boys activities in the Commonwealth:
Center for the Study of Boys gathers Richmond boys/men leaders
February 20, the Center for the Study of Boys in Virginia hosted the first-ever “Helping Boys Thrive: A Community Conversation” which welcomed over 50 educators and nonprofit leaders from 38 Richmond area organizations that serve boys and young men. Coalition member Kimberly Hudson is director of the center at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, which is recognized globally as a leader in K12 boys scholarship.
Choros: App for male friendship
Founder Alex Vans, based in Alexandria, is building Choros, a mobile app designed around how men naturally form friendships: In-person, doing stuff.
The platform helps men connect through small group activities like hikes, pickup sports and trivia nights. Part of Startup Virginia’s incubator, Alex has organized more than 250 meetups across the D.C. and Northern Virginia, with plans to expand to other cities this year.
Dads for All: Community building for dads
Nonprofit Dads for All is building networks for fathers around the country. These in-person groups of dads self-organize around local community projects like a park cleanup or a school event, which Dads for All supports through coaching and and event stipends.
Fairfax County resident and co-founder Mohan Sivaloganathan partnered with Virginia-based Choros (see above!) to organize dad hangs, thanks to the networking power of Virginia Coalition for Boys and Men!
Masculinity research participants needed
A high school student at University School at East Tennessee State University is seeking to interview men who live Northeast Tennessee or Southwest Virginia for a research project on masculinity.
She seeks to connect with men who are:
• Ages 40-65
• Biologically male
• Fully identify as male
• Reside in Northeast Tennessee or Southwest Virginia
• Are present in the U.S. at the time of this study
Contact Kaiya Robinson at Robinsonkm2@etsu.edu or read more details about the project.
Partnership for Male Youth
Dennis J. Barbour is President and CEO of Partnership for Male Youth and a VCBM member. PMY offers access to expert research and interviews and its free newsletter is a fantastic resource on policy, research and news affecting young men. I always read this newsletter! Sign up here.
National news on male issues
In recent weeks:
The White House Council on Fathers and Sons Act of 2026, introduced by Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), would create a federal council within the White House to coordinate research, policy, and programs focused on strengthening father involvement and addressing challenges facing boys and young men. The bill has been referred to the House Education and Workforce Committee.
H.R. 7602, the State of Men’s Health Act, introduced by Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) with bipartisan support from members of the Congressional Men’s Health Caucus, would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to produce a comprehensive report on the health status of men and boys in the United States.
The American Nurses Association officially adopted the Men’s Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice along with formal recognition of Men’s Health Nursing as a specialty within the nursing profession. This makes nursing the first healthcare profession to recognize a men’s health specialty supported by a formal scope and standards document.
Scuttling HB1188 for budgetary reasons (as some had considered) would have been nonsensical. There’s clearly a need, and the cost is minimal. Let’s hope Governor Spanberger signs off on it soon.