Washington Golf & Country Club Scandal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is juicy. I’d like to see the VA legislature take their state tax exemption away and then the federal.

The Washington Golf and Country Club is engulfed in a fierce controversy as the club (headed by Squire Patton Boggs partner John Burlingame) battles its own members accusing it of gender discrimination for fighting to maintain a “Men’s Grill.”

I do not understand why its OK to have men only spaces and not white only spaces

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“One of the things about a bubble of privilege is that people sometimes get away with things that would never be tolerated in their professional lives,” one member, who was granted anonymity to avoid losing their club membership, told Politico.


WOW, well if I ever did want to join, this is reason enough for me not to.

You posted this without the context of what was said in the article before it. They aren’t saying that’s OK or that’s how the CC operates. They used those words to describe the board president.

[Anonymous]

There is plenty of precedent that WGCC would lose in court. Here is one: https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2004/jul/08/gender.usa

The Louisiana supreme court has ordered a country club to open its men-only restaurant to women, rejecting claims that members sometimes dined there in the nude.

[Anonymous]

Let's clarify the issue- there is a men's lounge and a women's lounge- that is not the question. The main question relates the men's GRILL (not lounge) which is a restaurant that only men can use.

There are many members who are speaking up and against putting money towards renovating the Men's Grill. That is the outdated, sexist element and why people are upset. There are so many reasons people are upset and don't want to put money towards the Mens Grill. How can a club, with female members (not a spouse; the actual member) be told to pay this money for a renovation for a space they are NOT ALLOWED to use. If you don't play tennis, but the club is spending money to make the tennis space better- that is on the member, they have the CHOICE to play tennis at the facility they have to pay for. But for this Men's Grill, they want to renovate it as part of a larger project and this is why people are upset. Just turn that Men's Grill into a Grill for men and women- imagine that!

While I am sure some people are mad this got out, I am very ok with it. The Board told its members they were not going to discuss the matter of single gender spaces any more and would propose a house renovation plan members could vote on. This is a big issue and won't just be swept under the rug.

As for those you may know whose name is not on the letter, be sure you are looking at the most recent letter. People keep signing on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's clarify the issue- there is a men's lounge and a women's lounge- that is not the question. The main question relates the men's GRILL (not lounge) which is a restaurant that only men can use.

There are many members who are speaking up and against putting money towards renovating the Men's Grill. That is the outdated, sexist element and why people are upset. There are so many reasons people are upset and don't want to put money towards the Mens Grill. How can a club, with female members (not a spouse; the actual member) be told to pay this money for a renovation for a space they are NOT ALLOWED to use. If you don't play tennis, but the club is spending money to make the tennis space better- that is on the member, they have the CHOICE to play tennis at the facility they have to pay for. But for this Men's Grill, they want to renovate it as part of a larger project and this is why people are upset. Just turn that Men's Grill into a Grill for men and women- imagine that!

While I am sure some people are mad this got out, I am very ok with it. The Board told its members they were not going to discuss the matter of single gender spaces any more and would propose a house renovation plan members could vote on. This is a big issue and won't just be swept under the rug.

As for those you may know whose name is not on the letter, be sure you are looking at the most recent letter. People keep signing on.

How can we see the most recent letter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is juicy. I’d like to see the VA legislature take their state tax exemption away and then the federal.

The Washington Golf and Country Club is engulfed in a fierce controversy as the club (headed by Squire Patton Boggs partner John Burlingame) battles its own members accusing it of gender discrimination for fighting to maintain a “Men’s Grill.”

I do not understand why its OK to have men only spaces and not white only spaces

This is America, you can have white only spaces? There are pretty specific exceptions for public accommodations (at least until/unless this Supreme Court removes them) and for sure there will be tax code things. But just that you will have to pay taxes.

As far as I can tell this particular argument is just private club members amongst themselves and no one is saying the Men’s Grill isn’t allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why the f would any man unless gay or 90 wish to go to a male only restaurant.
they are correct to question that insanity

Because they don’t want to be around a bunch of fat screeching women.

This is exactly why men-only spaces need to be eliminated.

Country Club women are usually quite thin....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's clarify the issue- there is a men's lounge and a women's lounge- that is not the question. The main question relates the men's GRILL (not lounge) which is a restaurant that only men can use.

There are many members who are speaking up and against putting money towards renovating the Men's Grill. That is the outdated, sexist element and why people are upset. There are so many reasons people are upset and don't want to put money towards the Mens Grill. How can a club, with female members (not a spouse; the actual member) be told to pay this money for a renovation for a space they are NOT ALLOWED to use. If you don't play tennis, but the club is spending money to make the tennis space better- that is on the member, they have the CHOICE to play tennis at the facility they have to pay for. But for this Men's Grill, they want to renovate it as part of a larger project and this is why people are upset. Just turn that Men's Grill into a Grill for men and women- imagine that!

While I am sure some people are mad this got out, I am very ok with it. The Board told its members they were not going to discuss the matter of single gender spaces any more and would propose a house renovation plan members could vote on. This is a big issue and won't just be swept under the rug.

As for those you may know whose name is not on the letter, be sure you are looking at the most recent letter. People keep signing on.

Yes, to all of this, and I found it especially interesting that the person who leaked the letter posted the initial version of the letter and not the most recent with more than double the signatures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why the f would any man unless gay or 90 wish to go to a male only restaurant.
they are correct to question that insanity

Because they don’t want to be around a bunch of fat screeching women.

This is exactly why men-only spaces need to be eliminated.

Country Club women are usually quite thin....

And universally attractive. Men need a moment from basking in their beauty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is juicy. I’d like to see the VA legislature take their state tax exemption away and then the federal.

The Washington Golf and Country Club is engulfed in a fierce controversy as the club (headed by Squire Patton Boggs partner John Burlingame) battles its own members accusing it of gender discrimination for fighting to maintain a “Men’s Grill.”

I do not understand why its OK to have men only spaces and not white only spaces

This is America, you can have white only spaces? There are pretty specific exceptions for public accommodations (at least until/unless this Supreme Court removes them) and for sure there will be tax code things. But just that you will have to pay taxes.

As far as I can tell this particular argument is just private club members amongst themselves and no one is saying the Men’s Grill isn’t allowed.

I meant, can you imagine any of these people arguing for a whites only club

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's clarify the issue- there is a men's lounge and a women's lounge- that is not the question. The main question relates the men's GRILL (not lounge) which is a restaurant that only men can use.

There are many members who are speaking up and against putting money towards renovating the Men's Grill. That is the outdated, sexist element and why people are upset. There are so many reasons people are upset and don't want to put money towards the Mens Grill. How can a club, with female members (not a spouse; the actual member) be told to pay this money for a renovation for a space they are NOT ALLOWED to use. If you don't play tennis, but the club is spending money to make the tennis space better- that is on the member, they have the CHOICE to play tennis at the facility they have to pay for. But for this Men's Grill, they want to renovate it as part of a larger project and this is why people are upset. Just turn that Men's Grill into a Grill for men and women- imagine that!

While I am sure some people are mad this got out, I am very ok with it. The Board told its members they were not going to discuss the matter of single gender spaces any more and would propose a house renovation plan members could vote on. This is a big issue and won't just be swept under the rug.

As for those you may know whose name is not on the letter, be sure you are looking at the most recent letter. People keep signing on.

Yes, to all of this, and I found it especially interesting that the person who leaked the letter posted the initial version of the letter and not the most recent with more than double the signatures.

Why don't you copy & paste the new signature list so we can give credit to the shamed latecomers?

[Anonymous]

On the one hand I feel like members had to know what they were getting into joining this club. Its reputation is basically Trumpers. But I do applaud and appreciate the members trying to fight it and I hope they succeed and bring about change since it’s sad to have a place with such outdated views in our community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On the one hand I feel like members had to know what they were getting into joining this club. Its reputation is basically Trumpers. But I do applaud and appreciate the members trying to fight it and I hope they succeed and bring about change since it’s sad to have a place with such outdated views in our community.

NP here:
I'm not a member, but my guess is they joined knowing about the grill. And gave it an eye-roll. But now when the board proposes spending $5M to update the men-only grill, this is when people start balking. Its one thing for the men to have a dated, greasy dining room. It's another thing to embark on a major capital improvement using collective funds for which half the membership does not get to enjoy the fruits of their own money. In fact, it is infuriating. Imagine your teen son can go eat at the grill while mom has to wait outside the door? That's insanely disrespectful.

WGCC needs to figure out if it wants to be co-ed, or if it wants to go the route of Burning Tree. I have no issue with BT because they have eschewed all government subsidies and they are not forcing half their members to pay for something they are NOT ALLOWED to use.

[Anonymous]

https://www.arlnow.com/2024/05/23/morning-poll-men-only-restaurant-at-country-club/

😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the one hand I feel like members had to know what they were getting into joining this club. Its reputation is basically Trumpers. But I do applaud and appreciate the members trying to fight it and I hope they succeed and bring about change since it’s sad to have a place with such outdated views in our community.

NP here:
I'm not a member, but my guess is they joined knowing about the grill. And gave it an eye-roll. But now when the board proposes spending $5M to update the men-only grill, this is when people start balking. Its one thing for the men to have a dated, greasy dining room. It's another thing to embark on a major capital improvement using collective funds for which half the membership does not get to enjoy the fruits of their own money. In fact, it is infuriating. Imagine your teen son can go eat at the grill while mom has to wait outside the door? That's insanely disrespectful.

WGCC needs to figure out if it wants to be co-ed, or if it wants to go the route of Burning Tree. I have no issue with BT because they have eschewed all government subsidies and they are not forcing half their members to pay for something they are NOT ALLOWED to use.

+1