Wesley Han, a non-binary actor known for portraying characters across the gender spectrum in shows such as Russian Doll, Daughter of the Bride, and Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, has filed a state civil rights lawsuit against New York City's Soho Grand Hotel. The lawsuit, reviewed by The Independent, alleges that Han was “forcibly removed” from a women’s restroom by a security guard who unlawfully entered their stall and demanded they leave immediately.
Incident Details
On March 5, 2026, Han attended a private party at the Soho Grand Hotel, wearing what the complaint describes as “an elegant, unmistakably feminine-coded outfit” consisting of women’s slacks, a Dion Lee blazer, heels, earrings, and carrying a purse. According to the complaint, Han entered the women’s restroom and occupied a stall. Shortly after, a security guard entered the restroom foyer and asked, “Excuse me ladies, have you seen a man enter?” The women present responded that they had not. Undeterred, the guard walked directly to Han’s stall and ordered them to “come on out of there.”
Han, startled and humiliated, complied. The guard then refused to allow Han to wash their hands and instead escorted them to the men’s restroom, treating them “as though they were dangerous, predatory, or sexually deviant simply for using the restroom that corresponded with their gender expression and presentation that evening,” the complaint states.
Legal and Social Context
New York law expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression. The complaint emphasizes that Han has used women’s restrooms for years without incident and that their choice is based on lived experience, as using the men’s room often provokes fear or harassment. Han told The Independent, “This was New York City – if there’s anywhere in the world where you can pee in peace, surely it was here?”
The lawsuit was filed in New York County Supreme Court and seeks compensatory damages for humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress, and mental anguish, as well as punitive damages to be determined by a jury. A Soho Grand spokesperson stated, “We are committed to full compliance with all federal, state and city non-discrimination laws… but we cannot comment on pending litigation.”
Broader Implications
Attorney Andrew Ortiz of the Transgender Law Center noted that such incidents occur frequently, often unreported. He pointed out that anti-trans bathroom laws exist in 21 U.S. states, with criminal penalties in Florida and Utah for using a bathroom not aligned with one’s sex assigned at birth. In Idaho, it is a felony for a transgender person to use a bathroom corresponding to their gender identity. Ortiz remarked that a male security guard entering a women’s restroom is “much more intrusive” than a non-binary individual quietly using the toilet.
Han expressed hope that the lawsuit would reinforce New York’s reputation as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ individuals. “For New York to continue being all of the things that it’s celebrated for, people such as myself need to know that they are safe to be their most beautiful, authentic selves here,” Han said.
