Is calling women ‘dumb bitches’ really OK?
Few call out local hockey association president for his demeaning remarks
Where was everyone?
Where were the Windsor Minor Hockey Association directors? Where were the managers, coaches and trainers? Where were the parents?
In January, Dean Lapierre, the association’s president, called Canadian women participating in the Women’s March on Washington “dumb bitches” on Facebook. On Tuesday, he was back, running the organization’s annual meeting. He was flanked by 16 other board members — five of them women. No one challenged him. The association has hundreds of members, including prominent people like Windsor West MP Brian Masse and former city councillor, now public school board trustee Alan Halberstadt, who are both coaches. But there were only seven people in the audience, only three of them women. Outside, only a few dozen protesters shouted.
Lapierre was acclaimed president, again.
That’s what’s most disturbing. Is it really OK to call women “dumb bitches?”
Association treasurer Mario Pennesi supported his wife Rita when she fought to be paid what her male colleagues at the Windsor Police Service are paid. But he refused to talk about his president calling women “dumb bitches.”
“I have no comment on that,” said Pennesi, who hugged Lapierre after being awarded a lifetime membership.
A player’s mother told Halberstadt that Lapierre’s comments disturbed her. He agreed. He thinks they were “pretty grievous.” He thinks Lapierre should step down. But he never said that.
He’s only a coach, he said. He thought the board would handle it.
“I guess I should have said something,” he said.
Angelo Tiseo protested outside the meeting to set an example for his 16-year-old son, who plays midget.
“I don’t think I’d be doing justice to my son if I didn’t speak up,” he said. “My being here shows my son I’m willing to stand up for the rights of human beings.”
Too bad there weren’t more parents.
“I have learned a valuable lesson,” Lapierre declared to the Windsor Star after a twomonth suspension, a meeting with the head of the Sexual Assault Crisis Centre and a course on respect. “Things put on social media can bring unwanted attention.”
His biggest takeaway? “Think twice, maybe three times before posting or saying anything that could get you in trouble,” he told CTV.
The association will educate its members about social media, he told CBC. “I think that’s the first step.”
The whole thing was “blown out of proportion,” he said. People “don’t know me.” Being suspended was “tough.” On and on. You’d think he was the victim.
It seems Lapierre has learned nothing. He’s not apologetic. His apology didn’t even address the women he belittled. He just got caught.
This wasn’t one mistake. He made other demeaning comments on social media in the last six years about women, poor people and fans of certain NHL teams.
“I will post what I want … Bam that bitches,” he shot back when women questioned him on Facebook.
Yet the board did nothing — until public pressure forced it to do something. Backing their president was more important than backing their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters. This wasn’t a matter of “education,” either. The organization already had a code of conduct prohibiting disrespectful, offensive and abusive behaviour. It already required members to take a course on respect in sports.
Unifor Local 444, the biggest, most influential union in the city, which pulled its funding from the association, doesn’t accept Lapierre’s apology.
“He has not reflected accordingly on the damage he has caused,” said president Dino Chiodo.
So the union will not reinstate its funding yet. At least somebody is taking this seriously.
“Blown out of proportion,” Lapierre said. Society is “too sensitive,” others said. Freedom of speech, some cried, though that didn’t seem to apply to the Women’s March on Washington.
The problem is this: if it’s OK to demean people, then it must be OK to see them as less worthy of respect. If they’re less worthy of respect, they must be less worthy of rights. Eventually, they’re just … less worthy.