Governor Turns Table on Sexist Dining, Moves Seats for Women Lawmakers

After protests from the state’s 11 women lawmakers, Gov. George Deukmejian has decided to change the seating arrangement at dinners he throws for California senators and assemblymen.

At three recent gatherings, Deukmejian sat with men at one table, and the assemblywomen and female senators were seated with the governor’s wife, Gloria.

“We were beginning to think we were being discriminated against by being put at one table,” Assemblywoman Jean M. Duffy (D-Citrus Heights) said.

But women legislators were spread among the three dinner tables used for a function last Tuesday night, an apparent attempt to silence criticism that he was being sexist.

“Either they knew it was being discussed or they changed the format,” Duffy said. “They had the women divided among three tables. That’s how it should be.”