Orange County, NY – Gender Segregated Sidewalk Signs In Kiryas Joel Drawing Ire Of Area Residents

Orange County, NY – A series of blue (men) and red (women) gender specific signs posted in Yidish along the sidewalks located on Forest St. in Kiryas Joel are drawing the ire of area residents who claim that segregated sidewalks are unconstitutional.

WESTCHESTER.NEWS12.com (http://bit.ly/1yZNEcz) reports that amid the controversy, members of KJ”s Satmar community quickly took to social media, exlaining that the signs are merely “suggestions” to help pedestrians during the busiest times of the day when sidewalks are crowded.

KJ resident Benny Polatseck tweeted, “This is not an attempt to take away women’s rights. This applies to men just as it does women.”

A rep for the company who made the signs said it was a private customer, and not the village, who placed the order for the signs.

“That’s just degrading,” said a local man, while an area woman said, “I certainly wouldn’t do it.”

An Orange County spokesperson called the signs “outrageous,” while a rep from the New York Civil Liberties Union said they are monitoring the situation.