Author’s note: some language quoted from official documents may be offensive to some readers.
You are likely aware that this year is quickly becoming the year where sexual harassment in the workplace will no longer be tolerated. Many previously prominent men have been held to account. Many women have come forward to detail their experiences and force the rest of us to understand the magnitude of the problem. Sexually harassing someone is now recognized as something that won’t be tolerated. Except in El Paso where sexual harassment is seemingly something the community condones.
As many of you are likely aware, Matt Lauer was fired last Monday over sexual misconduct allegations. Lauer is the latest high-powered personality to be accused of sexual harassment and fired, or left because of the alleged misconduct. Hollywood, Fox News, CBS and NPR, among others have recently faced sexual harassment allegations against team members. Among the many accused are Ben Affleck, George H.W. Bush, Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein. Some have admitted their abusive behavior and others continue to deny them.
Likely the most egregious allegations that have been made recently is against Roy Moore who is running for a seat on the Senate. Moore has denied the allegations, but many high-ranking Republican members have distanced themselves from Moore or have urged him to drop out of the race.
Congress is debating on how to deal with sexual harassment within their ranks.
The sudden accusations and resulting punishments for the offenders will likely make 2017 the year that sexual harassment by powerful people will be exposed. Megyn Kelly called the firing of Lauer as “the middle of a seed change in this country, an empowerment revolution in which women who for years have felt they had no choice but simply deal with being harassed at work are now starting to picture another reality, to feel that change is within grasp.”
Clearly, the country has had enough of keeping sexual harassment hidden and has embarked on a journey to hold all accountable, except in El Paso.
Luis Aguilar is the judge for the 243 rd District Court.
Luis Aguilar is a documented sexual harasser and, yet it seems like El Pasoans could care less. Aguilar has been reprimanded twice by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Not once, but twice.
In 2005, the Commission publicly sanctioned Luis Aguilar. This quote in the official sanctions should concern everyone reading thins today:
“Aguilar made derogatory remarks and gestures of a sexual nature about women, including female judges, prosecutors, probation officers, and others with whom the judge deals in his official capacity”. According to the write-up most of the comments were made in the “judge’s chambers or offices, but in the presence of court staff”.
The reprimand added that Aguilar used terms such as “hot tamale”, “fucking bitch”, “fat pig”, “fucking lazy” and “stupid bitch” even referring “to one female judge as being ‘in heat’”.
Clearly there is a problem with Luis Aguilar, one in which he has no respect for women.
But somehow no one in El Paso, especially the women of the city, seem to not care that a sexual harasser sits on the bench.
Where’s the outrage? Where are the calls for Luis Aguilar to step down?
I’m not surprised though, because El Paso is all smoke-and-mirrors where politicos and leaders pretend to care but in reality only look the other way as long as their pockets are lined.
