Today in Herstory: NYC Bar Refusing Service to Women Will Face a Federal Suit

[niyad]

Today in Herstory: NYC Bar Refusing Service to Women Will Face a Federal Suit

June 24, 1969: As a result of being refused service at one of New York City’s “men only” bars in January, Karen DeCrow and Faith Seidenberg, members of the National Organization for Women, filed a Federal suit today.



They contend that being barred from McSorley’s Old Ale House, solely on account of their sex, is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The atmosphere inside the pub was even colder than the weather outside on that winter’s evening five months ago. A large bell was rung as an alarm when DeCrow and Seidenberg stepped in. The male patrons clapped and stomped their feet, while the waiters hooted. Both women sat quietly at a table and politely asked for service, but without success, with the refusals becoming increasingly hostile. Finally, a sympathetic man at the bar tried to buy drinks for the women. Some of the patrons then picked him up and roughly threw him through the swinging doors and on to the curb, his head striking the doors in the process. Not wanting to be the cause of any more violence, the women left, determined to fight the issue out in court.

This is not the first bar or restaurant in the city to be targeted by N.O.W. for discriminating against women. On February 12th, Betty Friedan and a few other women unsuccessfully tried to dine in the Oak Room of the Plaza Hotel, and were told women were not served there until 3 p.m. on days the stock exchange was open, and that the same rule applied to the adjoining Oak Room Bar.

The struggle for equal access to all public accommodations is going on nationwide, with plenty of other actions so far this year. On March 25th, N.O.W. staged a sit-in at Trader Vic’s in Beverly Hills, California, protesting its prohibition on unaccompanied women – but not men – drinking at the bar. The management’s assumption is that any woman not accompanied by a man is probably a prostitute intent on soliciting a customer, though management apparently doesn’t assume that an unaccompanied man is looking for a prostitute.

. . . .


Today, one more salvo against blatant discrimination was launched, as the battle for equal access continues.

http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2015/06/24/today-in-herstory-nyc-bar-refusing-service-to-women-will-face-a-federal-suit/

[marym625]

1. K&R

[Novara]

2. Excellent