A woman is pursuing a $10 million lawsuit against a luxury Boston hotel after staff allegedly ejected her, falsely believing she was a man using the women's toilets, in an incident her legal team claims was driven by discrimination.
The Incident at the Liberty Hotel
The confrontation occurred on 3 May last year at the Liberty Hotel in Boston. Ansley Baker and her girlfriend, Elizabeth Victor, were visiting when Baker used the restroom. She reported hearing a loud bang on her stall door shortly after entering.
Upon exiting, she was met by a hotel security guard. According to the lawsuit, the guard stated staff had concerns the pair were sharing a single stall, though Victor had already left the bathroom. Despite Baker presenting identification to confirm her gender, the guard allegedly insisted she was a man and forcibly removed her from the facilities.
Allegations of a 'Panicked' Cover-Up
The legal complaint, filed in Massachusetts, accuses the Liberty Hotel of discriminating against the couple "because of what Ms Baker looks like and because they are in a lesbian relationship." It further alleges the hotel's management "panicked" after the women shared their experience online.
Instead of apologising, the lawsuit claims executives conspired to create a false narrative. "The Liberty Hotel executives agreed to craft a defamatory statement, knowing it was false, suggesting Ms. Baker and Ms. Victor were kicked out... because they had been engaging in obscene conduct in a stall," the document states. The couple's attorney, Leonard H. Kesten, has firmly denied any obscene behaviour took place.
Legal Repercussions and Hotel Response
Following a complaint by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), the hotel agreed to a settlement in November. This included a $10,000 donation to an LGBTQ group and other corrective measures. MCAD Chairwoman Sunila Thomas George said the incident left the women "emotionally shaken, humiliated, and deeply distressed."
In a statement, the hotel's general manager, Mark Fischer, said the business had complied with the MCAD and apologised to the women. "We unequivocally deny discriminating or retaliating against them in any way," he stated, adding, "We deeply regret that our initial statement may have created unintended impressions." Despite this, the couple is proceeding with their multi-million dollar civil lawsuit.
