In other news, if you’re interested in reading a book that illuminates the subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination endured by maids in 1960s Mississippi, pick of Kathryn Stockett’s novel The Help. Told from the points of view of several black women and one young white ally, this is the rare piece of popular fiction that is actually about something. The obvious indignities suffered by the maids will be familiar territory to anyone who’s seen a movie or read a book set in the era, or who has the barest working knowledge of history.
What’s more thought-provoking, however, is the portrayal of subtle, casual discrimination between those who live in closest quarters to one another, and its insidiousness. This particular aspect of the book will hit home with modern gay readers who might feel that, while they’ve been invited into the proverbial “house,” like the maids, they enter by the back door and there’s still no place set for them at the table.
Finally, with that in mind, last week MovieTickets.com did an invite at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square for a screening of the movie It’s Complicated starring the incredible Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. The invitation stated: “you and your guest must be 25-64 years old (All males must attend with a female).”
It sounded to me like the invitation was managing to discriminate against gays, youth under 25, and seniors over 65 –all in one event. So, I called the screening organizers at 877-862-3456 and spoke to Adam Bonilla to be certain.
I asked him why two men could not attend together but a man and woman or two women could. Bonilla said they wanted women to attend, not men, and not two men without a woman. He informed me that it was a private event and that they can invite who they want and set their own rules. I informed him that the screening was going to be in a public theater. I then asked him if they wanted only white people to show up would they act similar? Bonilla said they have done that in the past when they wanted white audiences. Perhaps at a future showing a Jew could only enter in the presence of a non-Jew?
We used to have a Human Rights Commission here in New York. If you can find one, perhaps you can send this over to them.
14. November 2009 at 8:50 pm
Congratulations on the new position – always good to hear what you have to say Allen. xxoo