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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumslawyer files complaint against women only wonder woman screenings
a lawyer has filed a complaint against the alamo drafthouse in austin for hosting a couple of women only screenings of wonder woman, complete with women only workers that night.
Austin has an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sex,color,religion sexual orientation etc.
he has a good point. discrimination is discrimination.
http://www.statesman.com/news/local-govt--politics/new-details-attorney-filing-complaint-over-theater-female-only-wonder-woman-shows/hAX7Nc8tajzxYtzSPPJ5vI/
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)Here is a letter from a 'men's rights activist' to Austin regarding a civil rights violation about this screening and the masterful burn response from the mayor of Austin:
I hope every man will boycott Austin and do what he can to diminish Austin and to cause damage to the city's image. The theater that pandered to the sexism typical of women will, I hope, regret it's decision. The notion of a woman hero is a fine example of women's eagerness to accept the appearance of achievement without actual achievement. Women learn from an early age to value make-up, that it's OK to pretend that you are greater than you actually are. Women pretend they do not know that only men serve in combat because they are content to have an easier ride. Women gladly accept gold medals at the Olympics for coming in 10th and competing only against the second class of athletes. Name something invented by a woman! Achievements by the second rate gender pale in comparison to virtually everything great in human history was accomplished by men, not women. If Austin does not host a men only counter event, I will never visit Austin and will welcome it's deterioration. And I will not forget that Austin is best known for Charles Whitman. Does Austin stand for gender equality or for kissing up to women? Don't bother to respond. I already know the answer. I do not hate women. I hate their rampant hypocrisy and the hypocrisy of the 'women's movement.' Women do not want gender equality; they want more for women. Don't bother to respond because I am sure your cowardice will generate nothing worth reading.
Richard A. Ameduri
And the mayor's amazing response:
Dear Mr. Ameduri,
I am writing to alert you that your email account has been hacked by an unfortunate and unusually hostile individual. Please remedy your account's security right away, lest this person's uninformed and sexist rantings give you a bad name. After all, we men have to look out for each other!
Can you imagine if someone thought that you didn't know women could serve in our combat units now without exclusion? What if someone thought you didn't know that women invented medical syringes, life rafts, fire escapes, central and solar heating, a war-time communications system for radio-controlling torpedoes that laid the technological foundations for everything from Wi-Fi to GPS, and beer? And I hesitate to imagine how embarrassed you'd be if someone thought you were upset that a private business was realizing a business opportunity by reserving one screening this weekend for women to see a superhero movie.
You and I are serious men of substance with little time for the delicate sensitivities displayed by the pitiful creature who maligned your good name and sterling character by writing that abysmal email. I trust the news that your email account has been hacked does not cause you undue alarm and wish you well in securing your account. And in the future, should your travels take you to Austin, please know that everyone is welcome here, even people like those who wrote that email whose views are an embarrassment to modernity, decency, and common sense.
Yours sincerely,
Steve Adler
samnsara
(17,604 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)Steve Adler is my latest new hero!
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)There are all kinds of activities and events that are gender specific.
Girl's schools, girl's gyms, girl's organizations.
Girl's restrooms.
Boys got 'em, too!
Just more nasty shit.
rdking647
(5,113 posts)schools.gyms,organizations arent covered by the law. businesses are
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)No judge would consider 'a girl's night out' to be "discrimination."
Not even in Texas!
mercuryblues
(14,521 posts)Is it discrimination when they hold military only nights, date night, kid's showings.
They had other showings that everyone could attend.
Those poor put out males weren't invited to 1 party out of 30.
rdking647
(5,113 posts)austins law specificall says no discrimination based on sex.
its no different than the baker who refused to bake a cake for a gay wedding
mercuryblues
(14,521 posts)that the baker was actually sued for doxing the couple. They put their address and phone number on their FB account. They received death threats and had to leave their home. Thy almost lost custody of the siblings they were in the process of adopting.
compared to
Not being able to see the 9:00 showing.
samnsara
(17,604 posts)..a small building in the middle of town where moms could go with kids for a rest or potty break, elderly ladies could use a public bathroom and feel safe, and volunteer seniors sold plant cuttings they had started. Some man got pissed and noted that since the Lounge received public funds it couldn't discriminate. So it closed.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Offered here free gratis to the lawyers representing Alamo Drafthouse:
For its answer to plaintiff's complaint, defendant responds as follows:
1.
You mad bro?
Wherefore, having fully answered plaintiff's complaint, defendant prays that it be dismissed, that plaintiff recover nothing thereby, and that defendant be awarded its reasonable costs and attorney fees. Defendant further prays that it get one free kick at plaintiff's butthurt nads.
Respectfully submitted,
rdking647
(5,113 posts)or holding a screening of a movie for christians only?
the law says a theater cant discriminate based on sex,color,religion,sexual orientation etc...
if you dont want women discriminated against you cant discriminate against men
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)The difference is whether the business holds itself out as offering service to anyone, but then changing its rules when someone comes in that they don't want to serve. But when the business openly advertises that it won't be serving (as in this case) men for one night, that's how it's different. It's how, for example, Curves "gets away" with being a workout center for women only.
Easy rule of thumb: If the business offers its service to the general public without reservation or restriction then decides not to serve you for a prohibited reason* after you've come through the door, it's unlawful discrimination. If the business tells you ahead of time not to patronize it for really any reason, it's in the clear.
*Obviously (though I feel it needs to be said in this instance) a prohibited reason doesn't include law-breaking or anti-social behavior (belligerent or violent or menacing patrons).
Gravitycollapse
(8,155 posts)I support the theatre's choice to have women only screenings. But you are factually incorrect in your analysis of public accommodation.
Under the civil right act a movie theater is specifically mentioned as a public accommodation and under austin law a public accommodation cant discriminate . telling people ahead of time doesnt change things.
otherwise whats to stop a theater from saying a showing will be for whites only?
Major Nikon
(36,818 posts)ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)Have someone buy up all the tickets and then resell them to women only. It's not the theater that is doing the discriminating. Or have women line up outside the ticketbox hours before a showing and buy up all the tickets. Sorry guys, if you wanted to see the movie, you should have got here four hours ago.
blogslut
(37,981 posts)What are these brojerks so damned scared of?
rdking647
(5,113 posts)hes a gay law professor that does sex discrimination lawsuits.
hes not a "brojerk"
You think a gay man can't be sexist? Oh, you poor, sweet child.
blogslut
(37,981 posts)His reasoning might be technically sound but I'm betting there is both animus and attention-grabbery behind his motives.
Gothmog
(144,884 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)rdking647
(5,113 posts)it says no discrimination based on sex. The alamo specifically advertised no men allowed.
if the city chooses to ignore the complaint that the anti discrimination law will get thrown out of court.
No discrimination means no discrimination. period
just because you dont like how its being applied doesnt matter.
Its no different than a theater saying no jews at this showing . or no gays....
you cant discriminate. period
Gravitycollapse
(8,155 posts)Attacking Jews or members of the LGBTQ community is so destructive because it's attack from a place of power. Jews are targeted by white supremacy and gay people are targeted by the heteropatriarchy.
Who's targeting men with a women-only showing? Some secret female world order? No.
Anti-discrimination laws are designed to dissolve power structures that favor certain groups. There is no power system in the US that favors women.
rdking647
(5,113 posts)i dont have a problem with a women only screening.
but you cant discriminate PERIOD....
Gravitycollapse
(8,155 posts)I'm very much aware of the law (see my post above). What I'm saying is the law is merely a tool, a means to an end. If the spirit of the law is not present, then there's no use in enforcing the law.
There is no power structure in the US that favors men over women. The women-only showings are not symbolic of any greater issue of discrimination against men. They, in fact, are symbolic of exactly the opposite. Women are subjugated in this country and they deserve spaces where they can be free from the oppressive nature of male dominated culture.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)dlk
(11,509 posts)Not sure this meets the actual standard for discrimination. Trump's brand of petty vindictiveness is spreading everywhere.