SALT LAKE CITY – A rally was held at the Utah State Capitol Friday, and those who attended were advocating for father’s paternity rights.
The inaugural Fatherless Day Rally was held at 6 p.m., and the event in Salt Lake City was one of several such events held globally.
According to a press release from event organizers, speakers at the event addressed issues facing fathers in Utah who are involved in a separation or a divorce. The press release stated that similar rallies were held in 36 U.S. states as well as in Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Land Reay is a legislative researcher with the Utah chapter of National Parents Organization, and he said fathers often face unfair biases when it comes to custody of their children.
“We’re here to give a positive message that fathers are very valuable in the home and a very important part of the family and the decline of the father-centered household is having social problems that are going to last for generations if we don’t start addressing them,” he said.
Reay said they also are trying to move away from the idea that women should bear more responsibility for custody of children.
“We’re trying to find a way to get the legislature to listen to us and make shared and equal custody the presumption,” he said.
