T H E   N A T I O N A L   C E N T E R   F O R   M E N
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                    Fighting for Fairness and Equal Rights
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      Post Office Box 555                       Telephone (516) 942-2020
      Old Bethpage, New York 11804              Facsimile (516) 938-7550

                         P R E S S   R E L E A S E 
            
      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
      December 11, 1995                   Contact: Kingsley G. Morse Jr.
            
                       REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE FOR _MEN_
         Men's Center to distribute "Reproductive Rights Affidavit"

         On January 1, 1996 The National Center for Men will begin 
      nationwide distribution of it's "Reproductive Rights Affidavit". 
      The Affidavit is intended to give a man some legal rights in matters
      of procreation. We think it will encourage men and women to make 
      family planning decisions as equal partners.

         More than two decades ago Roe v. Wade gave women control of their
      reproductive lives. A woman has the right to decide if and when -- 
      and under what circumstances -- to bring a new life into the world. 
      No one in government can force her to be a parent because she will 
      have a choice even _after_ conception. 

         BUT MEN ARE ROUTINELY FORCED INTO FATHERHOOD. A woman has a 
      choice... a man has none. He has no voice and he is often forced to 
      be responsible for _her_ choice. She has control of her life and his. 
      He has control of nothing. 

         WE BELIEVE THAT AT A TIME OF REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR WOMEN, 
      FATHERHOOD MUST BE MORE THAN A MATTER OF DNA. WE BELIEVE THAT A MAN 
      MUST CHOOSE TO BE A FATHER IN THE SAME WAY THAT A WOMAN CHOOSES TO BE 
      A MOTHER. Our Reproductive Rights Affidavit will give a man that 
      choice. It reads, in part:
        
            "I hereby relinquish all legal rights and responsibilities 
            for the child referred to in this affidavit. I have made no 
            commitment to, and will accept no obligation for this child." 

            "I will not recognize the authority of a court to strip me of 
            my constitutional right to reproductive choice and I will 
            challenge any court order that seeks to impose a parental 
            obligation upon me against my will." 

            "By filing the affidavit with a court of law I am joining with 
            others in an act of peaceful resistance to unfair an unjust laws." 
      
         The contact for this story is Kingsley G. Morse Jr., coordinator of 
      the National Center for Men's Reproductive Rights Project. 

         Also available for interviews are NCM's executive director, Mel 
      Feit, and NCM attorneys preparing the choice-for-men litigation.

         The "Affidavit" is copyright 1995 by the National Center for Men.

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From rballard@cnj.digex.net Thu Jan 18 18:04:30 1996