Australia appeared to have its most ridiculous court hearing ever, Tuesday, where a man is accusing a museum of illegally discriminating against men in a “women’s only” exhibit.
The “Ladies Lounge” exhibit at the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania is apparently designed for women to be ushered around by men “who live to serve” them, according to the BBC. Men are turned away from the exhibit entrance, a process supposedly playing off pre-1965 laws in Australia that stopped women from being able to drink in bars.
But the issue is that the exhibit also contains some of the museum’s most important works, ranging from Picasso to Sydney Nolan. As a result, at least one man complained the museum is engaging in illegal discrimination against men.
New South Wales resident Jason Lau’s arguments hit the courts on Tuesday. Lau purchased tickets to visit the museum for $23 to access the whole museum, but was turned away from the “Ladies Lounge.”
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“Anyone who buys a ticket would expect a fair provision of goods and services in line with the law,” he told the court. (RELATED: Sorry, Singles: Eye Contact Is ‘Harassment’ At Australia Nightclub)
The counsel representing the museum seemed to focus more on explaining how the exhibit works and what it means to them, rather than laying out a legal argument. “Part of the experience is being denied something that is desired,” attorney Catherine Scott told a local outlet. “It excludes men, and I would be lying if I were to say I didn’t find it titillating.”
But it turns out that the law pretty much sides with the museum. As written, it allows for discrimination “designed to promote equal opportunity for a group of people who are disadvantaged or have a special need because of a prescribed attribute.” But Lau countered that this is designed for “positive discrimination,” not the “negative discrimination” he claims he faced.
The fight is ongoing and seems rife for a hilarious biopic, perhaps something by Taika Waititi or Australia’s own Josh Lawson? Either way, I bet it would be the greatest satire.