Austin's Mayor Responds to Man Angered By ‘Wonder Woman’ Screening
Austin Mayor Steve Adler Shutterstock
Steve Adler posts a letter writer's message to boycott Austin, which the mayor describes as "an embarrassment to modernity, decency, and common sense."
In certain corners of the internet, Wednesday, May 24 is a day that will live on in infamy. That is the day Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse cinema announced it would be hosting a women-only screening of “Wonder Woman,” the newest superhero movie from DC. Oh, the humanity.
Outraged men took to the Drafthouse’s Facebook page en masse with some wondering when the men-only screenings of “Thor” would take place. Others pondered what the true meaning of “equality” could possibly be when gendered screenings like these are allowed to exist. More than a few of these outraged moviegoers demanded a boycott of the Alamo Drafthouse.
One man in particular, however has called for something even more drastic—a male-only boycott of the entire city of Austin.
Richard A. Ameduri included this interesting idea—among others—in a (typo-ridden) angry letter to Austin Mayor Steve Adler:
“I hope every man will boycott Austin and do what he can to diminish Austin and to cause damage to the city’s image. The theater that pandered to the sexism typical of women will, I hope, regret it’s [sic] decision. The notion of a woman hero is a fine example of women’s eagerness to accept the appearance of achievement without actual achievement. Women learn from an early age to value make-up, that it’s OK to pretend that you are greater than you actually are. Women pretend they do not know that only men serve in combat because they are content to have an easier ride. Women gladly accept gold medals at the Olympics for coming in 10th and competing only against the second class of athletes. Name something invented by a woman! Achievements by the second rate gender pale in comparison to virtually everything great in human history was accomplished by men, not women. If Austin does not host a men only counter event, I will never visit Austin and will welcome it’s deteriorati on [sic]. And I will not forget that Austin is best known for Charles Whitman. Does Austin stand for gender equality or for kissing up to women? Don’t bother to respond. I already know the answer. I do not hate women. I hate their rampant hypocrisy and the hypocrisy of the “women’s movement.” Women do not want gender equality; they want more for women. Don’t bother to respond because I am sure your cowardice will generate nothing worth reading.”
On Thursday, Adler delivered his response. Austin’s mayor opens his letter by (charitably) assuming that it was never Ameduri’s intention to send his message.
“Dear Mr. Ameduri,” Adler begins, continuing:
I am writing to alert you that your email account has been hacked by an unfortunate and unusually hostile individual. Please remedy your account’s security right away, lest this person’s uninformed and sexist rantings give you a bad name. After all, we men have to look out for each other!
Still attempting to help Ameduri save face, Adler continues:
Can you imagine if someone thought that you didn’t know women could serve in our combat units now without exclusion? What if someone thought you didn’t know that women invented medical syringes, life rafts, fire escapes, central and solar heating, a war-time communications system for radio-controlling torpedoes that laid the technological foundations for everything from Wi-Fi to GPS, and beer? And I hesitate to imagine how embarrassed you’d be if someone thought you were upset that a private business was realizing a business opportunity by reserving one screening this weekend for women to see a superhero movie.
After all, Adler concludes:
You and I are serious men of substance with little time for the delicate sensitivities displayed by the pitiful creature who maligned your good name and sterling character by writing that abysmal email. I trust the news that your email account has been hacked does not cause you undue alarm and wish you well in securing your account. And in the future, should your travels take you to Austin, please know that everyone is welcome here, even people like those who wrote that email whose views are an embarrassment to modernity, decency, and common sense.
Yours sincerely,
Steve Adler
It’s unlikely the outrage sparked by the screening will be bad for Austin or for the Alamo Drafthouse. The women-only Wonder Woman viewing sold out so quickly, the theater has added two more to its coming line-up.
Quinn Libson is a Staff Correspondent for Government Executive’s Route Fifty based in Washington, D.C.
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