Eeek!! Even men’s rights activists were warning each other to avoid George Gilliland. Check out this 1995 newsletter post from the National Coalition for Free Men:

From NCFM News - Newsletter of the National Coalition of Free Men, Nov Dec 95

BUYER BEWARE - If you locate a men’s advocacy organization and are then asked to pay large fees, be sure to do your homework. Most men’s organizations charge $50 or under for yearly dues. Usually these are self help groups that support some activity and where you get a newsletter and can communicate with other members. Recently NCFM received a copy of a complaint filed with the New Burlington, MN police department against George Gilliland who heads the Domestic Rights Coalition. The Domestic Rights Coalition promoted, among other things, services for battered men. While any legal outcome against Mr. Gilliland has yet to be decided, we feel that the opportunity to perpetrate fraud is as easy within the men’s movement as it is anywhere else. We also think that those who list services at the back of books or pamphlets withouit any care as to the quality of service, but who would thereby seem to give their endorsement, should also be put on notice.

Your apparent passions withstanding, and your critiscism of my research accepted for all it may be worth, would your, or any person’s ethical standards from a human rights position allow condoning of battery upon anyone?

It’s “notwithstanding”. And the notion that fake calm=ration is a fallacy in an of itself.

Ampersand’s piece about it sums it up perfectly. The Brott piece was as bad an exmaple of the backlash as I’ve seen. Amp demolishes stuff like that in his piece about it—as well as the way you attempt to use the Gelles material. I notice that article was eleven years old, long ago that you certainly must be aware that the way it used Gelles and Strauss has been thoroughly debunked by Gelles and Strauss themselves.

Your apparent passions withstanding, and your critiscism of my research accepted for all it may be worth, would your, or any person’s ethical standards from a human rights position allow condoning of battery upon anyone?

Isn’t it possible to take out the analysis, the politicing, the rhetoric and break the truths down to their roots; the simplest common denominator? No one deserves to be dehumanized, or demeaned, physically, verbally, or emotionally. Whomever the perpetrator: man, or woman, sexuality not withstanding, they must be stopped. The victims have been manipulated into a vortex of pain and hopelessness. Survivors, all of us, at some point thought life was black and void of human kindness.

I truly appreciate your review of my analysis, but at some point down the protracted line of put-downs through the ultimate of murder, we’ve got to agree that there are folks out there who feed on other’s pain and grief. There’s got to be help out there for the victim and their families, no matter what the sexuality of anyone is. That part of me who is that survivor remembers the assistance I received, and I’ve devoted myself to the assistance of others.
With Respect

Huh. Which radical womens’ groups? The fact that this article was published in Penthouse also indicates something.

Here’s the nail on the coffin:

L ast week, in St. Paul, Minn., George Gilliland Sr., director of the Domestic Rights Coalition, opened the first shelter for battered men in the United States. Gilliland, who says his wife hit him with a board with a nail in it, missing his eye by a fraction of an inch, attributes part of the delay to efforts by battered women’s groups and other women’s organizations to block the project.

Brad? I live in St. Paul. I know of this guy. He’s not a battered man: he’s a convicted wife beater who at the time he formed this ’shelter’ had no less than five restraining orders out against him, inc luding one by George Gilliland, Jr., his own son.

The writer also seriously mistates the work of Gelles and Strause. Steinmetz’s data was pretty swiftly debunked: I can’t believe this writer didn’t do more research.

So, in short, this article was biased, twisted, and not well-researched.

To some, I suppose, I do possibly portray myself as a “Men’s rights activist”. That’s too narrow a stroke for me. I don’t place myself, or wish to portray myself in any polarity. If I were to activate myself in any fashion, it would be to Human Rights. The right of a person to not be pushed, hit, slapped, verbally attacked, or battered in any fashion. My articles in my blogs set a tone for non bias reporting and personal stories. I’ve been there, done that and because of my history and the higher education I’ve exposed myself to, I am able to empathize and sympathize with men and women who have found themselves stuck in demeaning situations with significant others.

Your article is quite complete and non-biased. I appreciate that. You write well and seem to have been provoked to write because of a passion. We all have a passion. I am thankful for forums like these to be able to vocalize thoughts. All I know is I am able to help. I’ve b een blessed with that gift. I am not now and never have aspired to be in the political arena. That, my friend, is for the polititians. I don’t see myself as that.

With respect…

You might find this post of mine interesting, as well.

All I ask of anyone is to remain objective. It’s not easy, but when dealing, as I do with families in crisis, I must remember my past and not become enmeshed within the web of abuse. I’m almost 60 now and have assisted countless individuals in their quest for freedom.

Here are a few pieces of literature you might find interesting:
Steinmetz, Suzanne K., Muurry A. Straus and Richard J. Gelles. Behind Closed Doors.

Steinmetz, Suzanne K. and Murray A. Straus Violence in the Family.

Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Councel: Valley Oasis Shelter. “The Other Side of Domestic Violence: Women Battering Men.”? 1.

Dershowitz, Allen M. “Wives Also Kill Husbands-Quite Often.”? Los Angeles Times. 2 July 1994: B7.

Brott, Armin. “When Women Abuse Men.”? The Washington Post. 16 January 1994: “Style.”?

If you wish, please check out my blogspot site.

With all respect

I’m automatically suspicious of someone who tips their hand like that, by claiming that it’s equal or non specific. It is.

I’ve been dealing with DV on blog the past few days, and one of the things I’ve noticed about male victims is that thus far they just don’t display that Men’s Rights group attitude. As a matter of fact, they can’t get help from MRG members. MRG members only appear interested in sticking it to women and feminists, and making themselves into victims.

Let’s not forget that domestic violence (especially that coupled with murder) increases during pregnancy. The life of an embryo is more significant than that of a gamecock (which is much more important than a woman regardless of the gravidity of her uterus), so I guess if a women miscarries but survives a beating (or the perp involves a gamecock) there is a chance a felony charge will be pursued.

So, as long as people rob, beat, murder and rape people who lack self-respect, it’s perfectly legal?

And BTW, the highest likelihood for a victim of domestic violence to be murdered is when he/she attempts to leave the perpetrator. Sometimes, not going back could get you killed.

Those supposed leaders of the public were probably just like the women I’ve just depicted. For as unerving as it is to observe our elected officials acting in such a juvinile manner, it needs to be understood that their ignorance about spousal abuse had just been exposed. These folks need some serious counseling, don’t you think?
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Brad Benjaminson
MS, BS, C.A.T.S.
http://bradbenjaminson.blogspot.com