NOMAS Position Statement on Spirituality

NOMAS recognizes that deeply held social beliefs in equality and justice are often grounded in an understanding of the world that might include theological statements, whether the instinct takes expression though tikkun olam or the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. These sentiments from those who hold some sort of belief system go beyond the simple conviction of intellect to something deeper, called the spiritual.

Position Statement on Homophobia

As an organization striving to be affirmative of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgendered, queer, and intersexed persons, NOMAS understands homophobia to be the individual and psychological response to those who do not conform to the expectations of binary heterosexual expression. “Homophobia,” as an irrational fear and loathing, is to be distinguished from heterosexism, which is the presumption of heterosexuality as the normative state, and identifies L/G/B/T/Q/I persons as deviating from the norm.

Globalization Position Paper

The Globalization Task Force (GTF) of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS) explores pro-feminist, lesbian-, gay-, bi and transgendered-affirmative, and anti-racist alternatives to the ongoing injustices of elite-led globalization that disproportionately harms marginalized and impoverished communities. As citizens of the global community, we affirm our inherent interconnectedness and shared fate with all peoples and all life on the planet.

As residents of the United States, we recognize the privilege of our social location and seek to ally ourselves in solidarity with residents of the global south by increasing the awareness of other privileged residents of the U.S.

Position Paper on Men's Culture

Despite more than 100 years of the women's movement promoting gender equality and civil rights for all people, twenty-first century Western culture seems increasingly intent on maintaining and perpetuating traditional sexist stereotypes that cut us off from the social justice movements, and the gender-egalitarian roots historically found in indigenous societies and folk communities.

NOMAS refuses to collude with this populist and increasingly corporate culture that glorifies all forms of violence, sexism, racism, and homophobia.

Gay Rights

The homophobia of the majority of American men can hardly be underestimated. We speak out for Gay Rights, even in light of frightening and alienating the majority of men before they can hear anything else we have to say, not only because gays are among the most oppressed minorities in the world today, or because gay men and women have been a vital part of our movement, but, because the oppression (heterosexism) of gays is tightly linked to sexism- which is unquestionably the most potent single factor which makes most heterosexual men afraid to deviate from the traditional male sex role.

We advocate for Gay Rights to heal the incalculable damage that homophobia, and the fear and confusion that it engenders, has done to both homosexual and heterosexual men.

Anti-Racism

The enduring injustice of racism, which, like sexism, has long divided humankind into unequal and isolated groups, is of particular concern to us. Racism touches all of us and remains a primary source of inequality and oppression in our society. NOMAS is committed to examine and challenge racism in ourselves, our organizations, and our communities.

Position paper on court mandated mental health treatment for men who batter

Many courts throughout the country are using mental health treatment as a penalty for men’s acts of assault against their partners.

It is our strong professional determination, based on many decades of work in the field, that an order for mental health treatment as a sanction for an assault is not the appropriate response.

Calling it Anger Adds to the Danger

Anger Management Policy Statement

With decades of experience to draw upon, we have determined that most people who are thought to need anger management programs already know how to manage their anger, and do so, on a daily basis in a wide variety of settings.

It is particularly worrisome when a man is ordered to an anger management program due to his "anger" at a woman who is his wife or intimate partner.