New York City Councilman Plans Gender-Segregated Beach Days

[brooklynite]

Bloomberg

New York (AP) -- A New York City Council member says he will sponsor gender-segregated beach days for his Jewish and Muslim constituents this summer — a plan opposed by the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Councilman Chaim Deutsch announced the first-ever "Southern Brooklyn Beach Day," hosting separate dates for men and women.

"I have a lot of Orthodox Jewish and Muslim constituents in my district who have never been able to go to the beach before," the Democrat told the New York Post . "They've never been able to smell the beach, to walk in the sand. Everyone should be able to enjoy the beach."

Deutsch said he is raising private funds to cover the cost of taking over the beach for two days at Kingsborough Community College, which sits next to popular Manhattan Beach.

[jberryhill]

1. "who have never been able to go to the beach before"

Do their legs not function properly?

They have CHOSEN never to go to the beach before, and they have every right to make that choice for themselves.

[superpatriotman]

15. +1000

Not going is purely by choice.

[Tipperary]

17. Bingo.

Too bad for them.

[Me.]

2. Since When Can You Buy A Public Beach?

[cynatnite]

3. It's a private beach. n/t

[Me.]

4. Is It Owned By Kingsborough Community College?

If so, the next question is...does it get taxpayer money?

[cynatnite]

16. Yes, that's who owns it and no, it's private funds he's raising.

The RW would have a shit fit if he used taxpayer money.

[Me.]

19. The Question Is

If the Community College owns it and takes taxpayer money, it changes the discussion as there are rules for taking that money and non-discrimination is one of them.

[Coventina]

30. If it is a community college it definitely is taxpayer supported.

All community colleges are, that why they are called community college.

Although, it should be noted that most community colleges rent their facilities out to all kinds of other organizations.
I don't know what that looks like in NY, but where I work, the CC only rents to organizations that support their mission.
I would say that this one should be problematic since it enforces segregation.

[hunter]

5. Can we have a nude beach day too?

Seems only fair.

[Lee-Lee]

6. How about fighting misogyny instead of enabling it and accommodating it

What I concept, I know...

[MineralMan]

7. Of course they've "been able to go to the beach."

They simply choose not to for religious reasons. A public beach is for the public. All of the public, every day. This would be unconstitutional in most state constitutions and the federal Constitution.

[Demsrule86]

13. I think it is a private beach...and these folks will never get to go otherwise.

[Jake Stern]

32. That's THEIR choice

Their ultra orthodox beliefs are what stops them.

[Coventina]

8. "Misogyny Beach Day" more like.

[Aristus]

9. I think this is ill-advised in the extreme.

I can't believe a Democrat is sponsoring this.

[Me.]

22. I'd Guess He's Orthodox And That Is A Big Influenece

just as it's been an influence in the NY State Assembly

[Coventina]

23. That makes it even more troublesome.

He was elected to a secular position and needs to govern from a secular position.

[Me.]

25. Same Thing Happening In NYS Assembly

which is why Cons are in charge

[Coventina]

26. That's a shame. But I do feel your pain.

We have a lot of Xian fundies running the politics here in AZ.

[Me.]

27. Could Do So Much Good....

sigh

[brooklynite]

10. "Let's put a bunch of fundamentalist Muslims and fundamentalist Jews on the same beach..."

Hilarity ensues...

[Coventina]

11. Cue "Yakey Sax"

[X_Digger]

12. Interesting responses..

.. especially when compared to the responses to the women-only showings of wonder woman.

I know, not 100% analogous, but interesting nonetheless.

As a principle, I can't get behind discrimination based on gender, regardless of the gender.

[Cal Carpenter]

14. The beach would be closed on those days otherwise

according to the article. I'm not saying this in general support of the idea, mind you, but it does make a difference that the beach wouldn't have been open to the public in any case on those days and that the councilman would be paying for lifeguards etc with private funds. Some of the concerns on this thread do not apply.

I wonder if the college would allow other private events on that beach when classes are not in session that could ostensibly be gender-specific (e.g. a secular women's group of some kind using it for a gathering).

The fact that the location is a public college and that the person planning it is a public servant do concern me though.

[bettyellen]

34. It's government supported segregation. A bad thing.

[cynatnite]

18. Flame away, but I really don't have a problem with this..

It's a private beach owned by a community college. It would be held on days the beach is normally closed. The council member has a constituency of Jews and Muslims. He's asking two days and would be using private funds.

Plus given some of the Antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate that permeates every part of our society, maybe providing a safe haven for something like this isn't a bad idea.

[Me.]

20. Not Going To Flame

but dislike this idea as much as women being asked to give up airline seats because a man of a certain religious persuasion doesn't want to sit next to her.

[cynatnite]

24. This doesn't strike me as being like that...

but I get why some are reticent.

[Me.]

28. ...

[stevenleser]

31. Not really a private beach. Community Colleges are taxpayer funded institutions that are generally

open to everyone and are definitely considered state run for purposes of equality provisions.

[cynatnite]

33. It is a private beach...

They require beach passes to get onto it which have to be bought.

Not only that, they're not excluding anyone. It's a private event being paid for with private donations. It's nowhere near being paid for by taxpayers.

[Hekate]

21. No. Just no.

[Greybnk48]

29. Wouldn't that also make it lesbian and gay beach day?

No disrespect.

[NY_20th]

35. This was a matter of debate in Brooklyn, two years ago

Although the argument involved women only swimming hours.

The NYC Commission on Human Rights reviewed it and decided to keep women only swimming hours.

http://gothamist.com/2016/07/06/women_only_swim_hours_update.php

[BannonsLiver]

36. If they leave their hangups at home, they can all enjoy the beach.

[bobbieinok]

37. In 40s, 50s SBC emphasized 'no mixed bathing!' Non SBCers scratched heads...

Was 'SBC speak' for males and females were not to swim in pool at same time.

At Falls Creek, OK SBC campgrounds, times for when boys were allowed to swim and when girls were allowed to swim were posted everywhere.