Ballpark Protest of Lesbian Kiss Sparks Discussion of Discrimination Issue

Civil Rights

Ballpark Protest of Lesbian Kiss Sparks Discussion of Discrimination Issue

Posted Jun 5, 2008, 04:41 pm CDT
By Martha Neil

Accounts differ about exactly what happened. But a woman says she was asked by an usher to stop kissing her female date at a recent Seattle Mariners baseball game after another fan complained the public display of affection wasn't suitable for children, even though similar behavior by opposite-sex couples apparently wasn't prohibited.

In fact, an ABC News article points out, the "Kiss Cam" puts opposite-sex couples locking lips at Major League Baseball games on stadium's the big-screen JumboTrons.

Mariners officials say they enforce the same PDA rules to couples regardless of the gender or genders concerned. However, one of the two women involved, 23-year-old Sirbrina Guerrero contends that didn't appear to be true, and--along with other supporters of equal rights for lesbian and gay couples--has complained about the apparent smooching double-standard, reports the Associated Press.

A Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist provided a detailed account of the incident last week. And a Big Blog post in the P-I today provides a further update: "Contrary to some media reports, Guerrero said she hadn't sued the Mariners and hadn't been thinking of doing so." Guerrero says she's spoken with Lambda Legal, a national LGBT civil rights group, the post continues, but is looking for fairness rather than money.

"I was really just shocked," Guerrero tells AP. "Seattle is so gay-friendly. There was a couple like seven rows ahead making out. We were just showing affection."

Although she denies that anything other than kissing was involved, "on Thursday, after an internal investigation, the Mariners said in a news release that their seating staff had acted appropriately, and the couple was approached because of their behavior--which included 'making out' and 'groping' in the stands--and not their sexual orientation," the news agency reports.

Among those who have rallied to Sirbrina's cause is sex advice columnist Dan Savage, who himself is openly gay. He is proposing that a "kiss-in" be held in protest of the seemingly unequal treatment of same-sex couples.

The blogosphere is buzzing about the issue and, regardless of whether stadium staff did or didn't discriminate, some members of the public are clearly less comfortable with same-sex PDA, according to AP.

Comments

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Posted by Bill Doran - 2 months, 4 weeks, 2 days, 5 hours, 24 minutes ago

I’m as liberal as the next guy, but any type of excess public sexuality (straight or gay) should be discouraged. I don’t slobber all over my wife in public and don’t like seeing it from others. Men are always being told to keep it in their pants. The same should apply to women with women or men with men. Give us a break, and “get a room”.
Posted by associate - 2 months, 4 weeks, 2 days, 2 hours, 45 minutes ago

I’d be highly surprised if we don’t find out that there was a bit of “excess” going on here. The gay and lesbian community seems to have slightly more exhibitionists than the community at large. Considering one of these ladies has already been on one of those “seeking love” TV shows, I’m thinking she’s probably got a bit of an exhibitionist streak to her. Those producers don’t pick your average Joe or Jane you know.
Posted by Bill - 2 months, 4 weeks, 2 days, 2 hours, 40 minutes ago

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz.

This is news?
Posted by Carol Anne - 2 months, 4 weeks, 2 days, 18 minutes ago

In the P-I’s Big Blog today is a lengthy comment from “seat 14,” someone who was there and saw and heard it all. I suggest your readers check it out. Comment #136299
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thebigblog/archives/140520.asp
Posted by Give us a break - 2 months, 4 weeks, 11 hours, 22 minutes ago

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone in this country could treat their partners with a little more respect?

If kissing or affectionately touching your ‘partner’ means nothing, then why are you wasting your time doing it. If it does mean something, then why would you want to cheapen it and hang it our for everyone to see?

I’m so sick of having everyone’s sexuality shoved in my face day and night… Grow up a little, please.

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