Austin Wonder Womangate Grows As Mayor Weighs In On Women-Only Film Screenings

AUSTIN, TX — By now, much of the nation knows that some men in Austin are upset a local theater is screening women-only showings of the upcoming "Wonder Woman" movie, complaining of reverse-discrimination or double standard as it relates to inclusion.

News of their complaints on the website of the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz theater garnered national attention, sparking a peppery dialogue on the tactics of female empowerment centered on the first full-length feature film showcasing a female super-heroine.

Rather than cower, theater officials wanting to help women celebrate with their own screening doubled down, adding additional screenings for the June release when the first one quickly sold out.

Related story: Men Outraged As Austin Theater Adds 2nd Women-Only 'Wonder Woman' Screening

One particularly aggrieved (and resourceful) guy took his complaints straight to the Austin mayor recently, complaining of the movie screening that will only allow women (or those identifying as such) for the milestone movie event. But his letter is more anti-woman diatribe than it is anti-women-only rant, and the letter writer was particularly miffed.

"The notion of a woman hero is a fine example of women's eagerness to accept the appearance of achievement without actual achievement," Richard A. Ameduri—a 71-year-old resident of St. Louis, Mo.—wrote Austin Mayor Steve Adler in a May 26 email. "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."

Oh no, he di'int! was the collective cry heard 'round the city by those seeing the letter. And those seeing the letter are by now legion, given that Adler published the man's full letter on his website, along with his response. Oh yes, he did.

You might want to grab your popcorn at this point. Known for his soaring oratory and quick wit, Adler shut the frustrated fellow down. He put him, as the young people say, on full blast.

The mayor started with sarcasm: "I am writing to alert you that your email account has been hacked by an unfortunate and unusually hostile individual," he wrote Ameduri. "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!"

Pow!

Then Adler delivered a series of stealthy body blows: "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."

Bam!

Then came a shot to the head, as if appealing to the letter writer's intellect to throw in his ideological towel: "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."

Crunch!

Then came the final blow, delivered right on the button in the center of the jaw for the final knockout: "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."

Kapowie!

The theater folks have explained that the upcoming women-only screenings are meant as a celebration for women excited to see a women superhero on screen, and the idea of equality is secondary to this tactic. After all, it's inferred, there have been numerous films based on male superheroes rolled out as summer blockbusters over the years, but never one focusing exclusively by a woman (played by the actress Gal Godot).

In fairness, not all men have expressed outrage at the all-women screenings occurring in the coming days. Many men on the theater's Facebook comments thread applauded the move, including some lovingly conveying the palpable excitement of their geeked-out wives and girlfriends getting a group of their friends together to attend the movie screening en masse.

But the mayor took his defense to new, articulate heights. While we're not the best judge of male beauty, we're told Adler is not an unattractive man. He's always sartorially presentable when attending events, including rallies for causes of which he's simpatico in showing solidarity. Adler also possesses the traits of an impressive lexicon and quick wit. Successful in the private sector as an attorney specializing in the areas of eminent domain and civil rights before ascending to the mayor's post, Adler is a family man—an image that helped propel him to the city's helm.

So basically, he's got it all. And with that letter in defense of women, the popular mayor has further ingratiated himself with constituents. In short, Mayor Adler: You're really making the rest of us men look like schmucks.

Here's the vanquished Ameduri's full letter to the mayor:

"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! [sic] Achievements by the second rate [sic] 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 [sic] event, I will never visit Austin and will welcome it’s [sic] deteriorati [?] on. 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."

It's unclear if the mayor's robust response had any effect on Ameduri. But one thing's certain: He's poised for a rather awkward Thanksgiving later this year in the company of his female relatives.

>>> Photo illustration via FaceInHole.com