Brooklyn Man Buys Movie Ticket, Triggers Internet

By | May 31, 2017, 17:39 EDT

Printed from: https://newbostonpost.com/2017/05/31/brooklyn-man-buys-movie-ticket-triggers-internet/
Gal Gadot in “Wonder Woman.” Credit Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Entertainment, via AP

Stephen Miller, a Brooklyn-based conservative columnist known for his musings at National Review, Heat Street, and other publications, also happens to be a fan of superhero flicks.

When Miller heard a local movie theater was holding several special screenings of Wonder Woman, he immediately went online to reserve a ticket.

The only problem:  the screenings, hosted by the hip cinema chain Alamo Drafthouse, are supposed to be for women only. (With proceeds of sales to be donated to Planned Parenthood.)

“The most iconic superheroine in comic book history finally has her own movie, and what better way to celebrate than with an all-female screening?” the chain’s website states. “Apologies, gentlemen, but we’re embracing our girl power and saying ‘No Guys Allowed’ for several special shows at the Alamo Downtown Brooklyn.

“And when we say “Women (and People Who Identify As Women) Only,” we mean it.”

Miller, who has nearly 81,000 followers on Twitter, decided to share news of his purchase:

Cue the outrage. First up, William Hughes, a columnist at the A.V. Club:

“As Miller has delighted in telling people irritated by his decision — in that “I am speaking calmly, so you must be the (expletive)” tone so beloved by internet trolls — there’s nothing illegal about purchasing a ticket to a screening. That argument does, though, gloss over the fact that, while barging into a space you’ve been asked to stay out of just because that request made you feel briefly tiny and weak doesn’t make you a criminal, it does make you an insecure piece of (expletive).”

But Miller’s purchase has apparently at least triggered a discussion on public accommodations laws. As the New York City Commission on Human Rights website explains, “it is against the City Human Rights Law for a public accommodation to withhold or refuse to provide full and equal enjoyment of those goods or services based on the following protected classes under the Law,” and goes on to list sexual orientation and gender identity as examples.

The site lists theaters as one example of a public accommodation.

 He’s turned down all media requests for interviews:

Meanwhile, in a different part of the world:

A professional film critic later compared Miller’s ticket-buying action to the act of rape:

Miller meanwhile studied up on New York state laws:

Miller also took time to respond to people questioning his decision to go see said movie:

 

Other conservative opinion writers tried to predict what the next level of outrage would be:

A follower of his, however, was already one step ahead of him:

Others found different reasons to be outraged over the movie:

There was also this historical tidbit about Wonder Woman:

Others commented on what the greater issue at hand might be:

Hypocrisy was also a theme of the past weekend’s outrage:

The special screening is scheduled for Thursday, June 8.

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