Outrageous Interruptus: NOW Cheers Decision to Abandon Sexist Urinals

March 19, 2004

After receiving an alarming volume of complaints regarding Virgin Atlantic's plans to install its so-called 'fun' urinals, Vice President John Riordan called NOW to apologize for their 'unintended offense.' He announced that the urinals would no longer be installed at the airlines' clubhouse at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.

"The National Organization for Women thanks our activists and women's rights supporters who weighed in with Virgin Atlantic," said NOW President Kim Gandy.

Virgin Atlantic airlines revealed plans earlier this week to install urinals shaped like a woman's mouth in their newly opened clubhouse. As soon as the plan became public, NOW members swung into action. "This is an example of women banding together to make a change—standing up for ourselves, our daughters, and our dignity," said Gandy.

"We commend Virgin Atlantic for this decision, as far as it goes," said Gandy. "But we note that their statement is limited to New York's JFK airport. We hope that they do not intend to put these degrading fixtures in countries where women are less likely to stand up for themselves."

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