Two lesbians who kissed at a Seattle Mariners baseball game at Safeco Field said they were told to stop and are claiming discrimination based on their sexual orientation.
Sirbrina Guerrero (photo) says she only gave her date a peck, but a mother sitting with her son complained to security and, as a result, they were told to stop or leave.
“And he (the security guard) goes ‘there’s a lady whose son says he saw you guys making out, and I did, too. And you have to stop.’ And I said ‘well, we weren’t making out, but we were kissing and I’m not going to stop,’” said Guerrero.
Guerrero says the only reason she was called out was because of her sexual orientation.
“(The security guard said) the mom doesn’t want to explain to the kids why two girls are kissing. So I said ‘well, I’m not going to stop, so you’ll have to kick me out. So he said ’so I suggest you leave then,”‘ she said.
The couple stayed at the game and then took pictures of men and women kissing without them being asked to stop. The Mariners are investigating the incident.
When asked whether she and her date were acting lewd in any way that would have prompted such a firm response from the security guard, Guerrero said, “We were eating garlic fries. The last thing we wanted to do was make out with each other. Honestly, that’s what it was.”
–Jim Buzinski
on May 29th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
time to contact this safeco field
http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com
on May 30th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Trust me, those Safeco Field garlic fries have a shitton of garlic. Those gals ain’t kidding.
on May 31st, 2008 at 6:02 am
This kind of discrimination is sick and wrong wherever it happens (of course)… but ten times as shocking in supposedly GLBT-friendly Seattle.
Given the incredible severity of the events for this location, I think we need to pull out some strong medicine of our own… a nice big shot of “two can play at that game”. Say we’re out at the ballgame with our own children, nieces and nephews, etc., and we see someone with a fanatically religious T-shirt… let’s claim WE’RE offended at having this jerk strike the fear of eternal suffering into the tender hearts of our preteen charges. Let’s see how they like the squeaky-wheel paradigm when they’re not the wheels anymore!
on Jun 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Keep up the good work outsports. More naked dudes.
on Jun 17th, 2008 at 1:53 am
Tell ‘em to quit countershaming, stop shocking the kids and get a room. This wasn’t about romance, it was showing off.
on Jun 17th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
When every heterosexual couple stops kissing in public, that’s when they should get a room. Until then, if you don’t want to see it, leave. Or cut your damn eyes out for all I care.
on Jun 23rd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
A very similar incident happened to a couple kissing at Dodger Stadium a few years ago. The big difference was that they were actually thrown out of the stadium by security guards! The couple fought this by filing a formal complaint with the Dodgers public relations department. resulting in the receipt of considerable apologies and free tickets as well as a public statement announcing the Dodgers’ new policy of equal access and affirmation of diversity. This story was big enough to make the L.A. Times; does somebody have a link for it? We do have both ends of the spectrum in Los Angeles: many religious people who are offended by same-sex romance, but probably the largest collection of out gay and bi people of any metro area in America (not to mention the largest predominantly gay area, West Hollywood). So this should have never happened in L.A., where gays and lesbians are everywhere. Give the Dodgers’ front office credit, however, for coming correct on it when notified.