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NEW BEDFORD — Seven women are alleging gender discrimination by the all-male body that oversees the city’s beloved Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, which in its by-laws prohibits women from serving as “festeiras,” or committee members for the feast — a prerequisite for becoming a club member.
“Since the Feast first began, Madeiran women have spent countless hours working to execute all aspects of the Feast,” reads a demand letter sent by their attorney on Friday to the committee’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.
The women requested the issue be raised at the club’s next board meeting on March 14, and brought to a vote at the subsequent general club meeting on March 24. If the male requirement to serve is not removed, their attorney wrote, the women are prepared to file a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and a lawsuit with the Bristol County Superior Court.
Local attorney Adrienne Catherine Beauregard-Rheaume is representing the women: Jane Gonsalves, Tara George, Nicole Peixoto, Jenna Peixoto, Angela Correia, Tiffany Ilioff, and Anne Cathcart.
“It’s having that sense that you belong here, having that sense of being an equal and having a voice,” said George. “We do have some really great allies in the club that have stuck their necks out for us … but a process has to be followed and it’s just not moving fast enough.”
Gonsalves, a former city councilor, said she thinks the committee has been stalling taking up the issue.
“They call it tradition, I call it misogyny,” said Gonsalves.
Last fall, the club failed to amend its by-laws to allow women to serve as committee members for the feast, or festeiras. Passage required support from 75% of members; the vote was split 50-50, George said.
“It breaks my heart that I may only become a member because I had to do it against their will,” said Ilioff, one of the women being represented by Beauregard-Rheaume. “It just makes me sad because these are men I’ve looked up to my entire life, who I consider family.”
Ilioff noted there are members who support amending the by-laws to allow women to serve. George echoed this, saying some men have been “extremely vocal” and instrumental and providing advice.
The popular Portuguese feast was founded in 1915 by four Madeiran men who immigrated to the United States and wanted to create religious festivals like the ones they had in their home villages.
Each summer, tens of thousands visit New Bedford’s Madeira field to imbibe wine, listen to live music and eat traditional Portuguese foods and sweets.
“They call it tradition, I call it misogyny.”
Jane Gonsalves
“Throughout its history, men of Madeiran heritage and their families have made the feast possible by their generous contributions of time and labor,” reads the history page of the feast’s website.
Over the years, many women have served as volunteers — preparing and serving food (like rinding lemons for more than 100 gallons of sangria) and helping to lift the green arches (including picking the bayberry that’s wrapped around them).
Aside from the feast, the club gives out scholarships, organizes events throughout the year, oversees a budget, and looks after its properties.
George and Gonsalves said the club expanded membership in the late 1990s, which was limited to sons of fathers with Madeiran heritage, to allow sons of mothers with Madeiran heritage.
George said since December, more than 30 women have applied to become festeiras.
Timothy Rodrigues, president of the Club Madeirense S.S. Sacramento, said he had not yet read the letter and could not comment on it when reached by phone late afternoon on Friday.
Asked if he supported women becoming festeiras and members, he again said he cannot comment until he reads the letter.
The committee’s attorney, Anthony Savastano, when reached by phone Friday, said he had not yet gone through the letter. He did not immediately respond to a subsequent query from The Light asking whether the club intended to add the issue to the agenda for a vote later this month.
“I hope it doesn’t come to a lawsuit,” said Ilioff. “I truly hope that we’re able to find a place where we can come together, be supportive of one another and allow this feast to flourish for another 100 years.”
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org.
There is a longstanding quote on the feastgrounds signage, ” God Help Us To Help Others”! Who are they actually addressing with that?
Get over it. There are clubs, gym’s,etc. that don’t allow men to join. You don’t hear men crying about that, do you.
News flash, Roland. Men cry and whine a LOT. I bet you do because you give off that “woe is me” vibe. Anyhoo, this club’s anti-women policies are hypocritical, archaic and sexist to say the least. I recommend the women stop enabling this sexist behavior by not providing ANY assistance with ANY part of upcoming festivals. Ladies, if you’re not deserving of membership then consider yourselves as not deserving of providing your valuable time and effort to the festival.
The practice of excluding women serving on the board of the Club Madeirense is just plain WRONG, morally, ethically, and legally.
It is shameful that in 2024, women are forced to threaten legal action in order to achieve equity.
I suggest that the “Club” think about the ramifications of their archaic practice and recognize the unleashed power of sisterhood.
Wishing these women success in their suit. If the matter isn’t settled to their satisfaction, I hope all women withhold their work on committee events in solidarity with Jane Gonsalves, Tara George, Nicole Peixoto, Jenna Peixoto, Angela Correia, Tiffany Ilioff, and Anne Cathcart.
In 1957 I marched as a young boy in the Feast’s parade to replace my uncle Manny Fernandes who was a committee member. No issues were raised even though I was a male of maternal Madeiran heritage. Forty years later men of maternal Madeiran heritage were officially welcomed on the committee. Hopefully it won’t take more than 40 minutes at the Board and club meetings for the Feast to officially enter the 21st century.
If the March 14 vote goes the wrong way someone ought to inquire with the Feast’s 50+ corporate sponsors as to whether they’ll terminate their relationships with the Feast organization. I can’t imagine that prominent companies like Tito’s Vodka, Walgreens, Shaw’s and Webster Bank among others will want the negative press associated with supporting an openly discriminatory organization.