More of-the-moment: talk of the town right now is the New York human rights commission’s investigation of The Wing. A women’s club that all my female friends know about and few of my guys do, The Wing provides space for women to work, meet, and support women’s advancement everywhere through events with lady leaders like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Dr. Eboni Marshall-Turman, who led a talk on colorism at the Brooklyn location last night. Thanks to a tip from someone who doesn’t understand the notion of ‘equality’ in context, the NYCCHR has asked the Wing’s leadership for a sit-down to talk about whether they violate New York’s anti-discrimination laws by excluding men. The quick answer is, they do (details in this Jezebel article), but is this really the best useof our time? The Wing exists for the same reasons those laws do: to protect a marginalized group from being further disenfranchised by people in power. And that’s why members, celebrities, and Bill De Blasio are speaking out in support of The Wing– because the mission of an all-women’s club is, right now, inherently different from an all-men’s club. But if a legal case rules in favor of a women’s club, how do you avoid opening the door to men’s-only clubs too? It’s a sticky one.
Word to the wise though, dudes, the new pill might cause mood swings and weight gain, which you should never, ever tolerate.
Phew.
Margot
