Dear State Representative Dale Kooyenga,

As a woman I am ashamed of how society is so fixed on equal rights for women while taking away rights from men. I am married to an amazing man with whom I am raising four children with. When he was in high school his girlfriend became pregnant. While he knew he did not want children it was later learned she became pregnant on purpose. As the mother of his son told me ''I knew he would be a great father but why you and not me?'' Leading me to why I am writing you. In places such as Wood County Wisconsin at birth custody and placement is automatically given to the mother. Forcing the dad to pursue the courts to even see his child/children. My husband was then just 17 years old. At the first hearing for child support he started out almost $5000 in arrears including the birthing costs. He was immediately unable to register a vehicle which the mother laughed about. He was later arrested several times while trying to catch up on support. While my husband was punished for being behind on support the mother is rewarded for not being financially capable of supporting the child. The mother has received and continues to receive section 8 housing, free birthing costs, free medical care for herself and child for 18 years, food stamps and free childcare state provided. Society punishes the father but rewards the mother for not being able to support herself or her child. Obviously this would be overwhelming for anyone. Also leaving him in fear to enter the courts and ask for and rights. He was treated like a deadbeat dad from the beginning. Even being belittled by the girl who gave birth to his child. She told him to stay away for the good of her son. He complied seeing no other options. At this point he is finally caught up with child support and in turn she learns he has a family and becomes enraged therefore as she puts it ''taking him for all he has''.We sought legal advice from several attorneys who have informed us she will get her adjustment including his overtime pay. Although his job position was cut his child support is based on an amount he no longer makes. Which will force him to get a second job to support our household while still having to support a son he can not see. On top of that when we go to the court hearing they will backdate the order leaving my husband is arrears once again. As the attorneys we consulted also informed us there is no point in pursuing any visitation. Apparently in this particular county it would cost an abundance of money and the outcomes are not favorable for the dads. The above has led me to several issues with our system. First if a woman/mother is on state insurance the man/father is responsible for 100% of the birthing cost if the parents are unmarried. Why is the woman/mother given a pass on contributing? Then the man/father is required to carry insurance for the child while in turn the woman/mother and child qualify for state insurance to cover any cost not covered by the insurance the man/father carries. Once again giving the woman/mother a pass on contributing. Woman have options when faced with an unwanted pregnancy leaving them the right to opt out of any and all responsibility. Meanwhile the men are left at their mercy of the pregnant woman. A woman can force a man into fathering their child making him responsible while giving him no rights. This is not just a disgrace to the men/fathers but an injustice to these children. It's overwhelmingly overdue to reevaluate custody, placement, visitation, and child support for the sake of the children and their relationship with both parents.

This petition calls for the introduction of reproductive and parenting rights for men, comparable to those currently afforded to women.

> 1. Ownership of one's sperm. Theft of a man's reproductive tissue ought to constitute a criminal offence. Use of the stolen material to impregnate oneself or another should similarly constitute a criminal offence. > In cases in which the man and women are unwed mandatory paternity testing to avoid false accusations regarding paternity.

> 2. The right to opt out of all legal/parental responsibilities pertaining to fraudulent pregnancies or, under certain conditions, accidental pregnancies. > In considering the previous suggestion, may I refer all to a proposal from a South Carolina attorney Melanie McCulley, which can best be summarized as follows: when a woman becomes pregnant she has the option of abortion, adoption, or parenthood. Therefore, in the context of legally recognized gender equality, one would expect that in the earliest stages of pregnancy the putative father should have the right to relinquish all future parental rights and financial responsibility, leaving the informed mother with the same three options.

> 3. Encourage women and abortion clinics to consider the father's position before proceeding with an abortion. Full custody of the child once born could be passed onto the willing father in cases where the mother does not wish to raise the child herself. 

> To be clear: no woman would (or should) ever be forced to complete a pregnancy against her will. > Remember, at present, in cases of children born out of wedlock, a man cannot be registered as the legal parent/guardian without the mother's consent - extenuating circumstances excepted.  Moving on to equal responsibility in the cases in which both parties choose to parent.

> 1. The father and mother should automatically be awarded 50/50 of the placement and custody rights to the child after the birth.

> 2. If the mother and father agree to a different arrangement the court fees and paperwork cost should be shared. This protocol should be followed just the same when they can not agree.

> 3. If the mother and father are unmarried at the time of the birth while the pregnancy/birth are covered by the state they shall share the cost in reimbursing the state.

> 4. The mother and father shall both be required to carry health insurance coverage for the child whenever possible. The cost for coverage should fit into the state guidelines for what is considered reasonable out of pocket cost for coverage coinciding with Medicaid cost/coverage. Child support should be reviewed for improvement for the child(ren) needs. When child support was first established it was to support children after divorce in order the maintain the childs living in which they are accustom to prior to the divorce. The numbers of children born out of wedlock has dramatically grown. Leaving child support calculations based on percentage outdated.

> 1. In cases of divorce a percentage up to a certain determined amount if the placement isn't a 50/50 split. >

2. In cases in which the mother and father are not married a set amount should be set per child. If the placement isn't a 50/50 split.

> 3. If placement is split 50/50 both parents would be supporting the children emotionally, physically, and financially eliminating the need for a child support order. If men and women are to be considered equals then it's about time we treat them as equals.