Minor League Promotion Violates Human Rights Laws, Constitution

Dashiell Bennett|published: Mon 6th July, 10:45 2009

It's a remarkable world we live in when a promotion meant to celebrate women can get written up as a violation of human rights laws. I hope Amnesty International doesn't have to be called for the next Free Bat Night.

Tomorrow night is "Ball-Less Baseball" night at the Hudson Valley Renegades game, a somewhat unique take on the old "Ladies Night" tradition. Fans in attendance will get massages, makeup, and mani-pedis. Oh, and men are not allowed into the stadium until after the 5th inning, a caveat that has drawn a sternly worded letter from officials in Dutchess County, New York, which owns the ballpark.

At best, the promotion is in poor taste. However, I write to warn that the promotion likely violates the New York State Human Rights Law and probably violates the guarantee to equal protection under the laws contained in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution," the letter reads. "New York State Human Rights Law (Executive Law Section 296) expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in any place of public accommodation. Clearly, your plan to prohibit admittance based on gender runs afoul of this provision."

"Dutchess County cannot in good conscience remain silent while its citizens are subject to invidious gender discrimination."

Invidious! To the Renegades credit, they were already planning a "tailgate party" for the dudes stuck in the parking lot and were forced to admit on their website that they would not actually prevent the testosterone set from entering the building. But only in a lawsuit happy America could people actually find it necessary to bury their sense of humor and lodge a formal complaint against something so silly. Or in the world of Poughkeepsie Journal web commenters....

Whats next Renegades? Whites only? Blacks only? Gays only? Dems only? Reps only?

Yes, that's exactly where we are headed. Apartheid is clearly the next step on this slippery slope. By the way, all bobblehead promotions are now considered an affront to babies with undeveloped neck muscles. Fair is fair.

Women-only promotion under dispute [Poughkeepsie Journal] Tampa Bay Rays affiliate in Hudson Valley, N.Y. catches flak for its version of Ladies Night [St. Petersburg Times]