Men and Fathers 4 Justice, an equal rights league, has begun to speak out in custody cases across Utah. The group claims that men do not have equal rights or opportunities in Utah to fend for custody of their children.

The league asserts that they are not a radical group of woman haters but that they just want equal rights to their children. Many of the men claim their rights were violated when they fought the justice system for equal parenting rights.

Alan Millard, a former adjunct professor at Weber State University, heads the Ogden chapter of Men and Fathers 4 Justice.

“We are a compassionate, justice-oriented group for fathers and their rights and we believe that men are treated unfairly in society and that there are prejudices against men developed by modern-day politically correct feminist agenda has caused a lack of understanding to be replaced by prejudice,” Millard said.

According to Millard, this prejudice against men affects equal parenting rights for fathers.

Not only a support group, the league wants to take action by creating awareness and educating people to the injustices that men face today.

“We’re about families and keeping families united, to allow children to have both parents and we do not believe that the state should be involved in families even if divorce or separation takes place,” Millard said.

Millard began writing articles for men’s rights as early as 1980. He became involved because he saw an inequality emerging after the women’s movement.

Millard said Men and Fathers 4 Justice advocates equal rights across the board. The group asserts that woman have more rights and they get their children for longer periods of time, usually automatically instead of joint custody being an option.

Conrad Lloyd is a member of Men and Fathers 4 Justice also, and is head of FOCUS; Children Need Both Parents in Salt Lake City. Lloyd has not seen his children for 19 years and is an advocate for getting rights for fathers.

“Men are not allowed to be victims because they are macho,” Lloyd said, noting what Men and Fathers 4 Justice believes is a common belief that is false.

Glen Winkworth, a member of Men and Fathers 4 Justice, writes down his frustration in his poems.

“Fathers are lucky to get visitation, stripped of their pride and representation,” is a line in one of Winkworth’s poems describing the injustices these men feel. “Fathers are usually scorned by the courts, confirmed are years of gender bias reports.”

You can reach reporter Jesica Medellin by calling 626.7621.