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NEW BEDFORD — Late next month, members of the all-male club that puts on the Madeira Feast every year are set to vote on whether the club amends its by-laws to allow women of Madeiran heritage to become members.
Last week, the club advanced a motion to vote on the issue during the next general body meeting, which is scheduled for April 28, according to several sources.
Club president Timothy Rodrigues and attorney Anthony Savastano did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Adrienne Beauregard-Rheaume, the attorney representing several women, said the club intends to vote on the issue at its next meeting.
“My clients and I remain hopeful that this will be resolved without protracted and costly litigation,” she said.
This month, women of Madeiran heritage sent a letter through Beauregard to the club, alleging gender discrimination and threatening legal action if the club does not amend its rules.
The club is best known for putting on the beloved Feast of the Blessed Sacrament (or Madeira Feast) every August in New Bedford. Each year, members are elected to become “festeiros” or Feast committee members who organize that year’s program.
Per the club’s by-laws, women cannot be Feast committee members, or “festeiras,” which is a prerequisite to becoming a club member.
“Since the Feast first began, Madeiran women have spent countless hours working to execute all aspects of the Feast,” read their letter this month to the club’s attorney. “The sexist ban serves no purpose, and is unfair to these proud Madeiran women. They deserve to serve as Club members and have their voices heard and count.”
“Their exclusion indicates the Club’s disrespect to women, and nullifies equal opportunity to celebrate their Madeiran heritage alongside men,” the letter continues.
In the 1990s, the club expanded membership — then limited to sons of fathers with Madeiran heritage — to allow sons of mothers with Madeiran heritage to serve.
Only a few months ago, the club brought the motion to amend membership by-laws to a vote, but it failed. Passage required support from 75% of members, but the vote was split 50-50.
“The vote was a big deal and the fact that 50% of the club can sit there and say you’re not worthy is really heartbreaking,” said Nicole Peixoto, who has applied to be a festeira and is being represented by Beauregard. “Times have changed and just because I’m a woman does not mean I’m not Madeira. I’m down there working as hard as the men. Why shouldn’t I get a say in coming up with new ideas?”
The women are threatening to file a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), and a suit in superior court.
MCAD enforces laws that prohibit discrimination in public places based on sex. State law defines public places as “any place, whether licensed or unlicensed, which is open to and accepts or solicits the patronage of the general public.”
The state has previously reviewed whether a social club is a public place. For example, the state ruled a gun club was required to admit a woman as a member. In another instance, nine women won their case against a golf and country club in the 1990s for gender discrimination (the judge ruled against the club and assessed nearly $2 million in damages).
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org.
