Boston hotel suspends security guard after bathroom confrontation involving same-sex couple
Boston hotel suspends security guard after bathroom confrontation involving same-sex couple
A luxury hotel in Boston announced Tuesday that it has suspended a security guard who was allegedly involved in a confrontation with a same-sex couple inside a women's bathroom on Saturday.
Ansley Baker and Liz Victor told Boston 25 News reporter Drew Karedes that they were booted out of the Liberty Hotel at 215 Charles Street after a security guard accused one of them of being a man.
Baker said a security guard knocked on her stall and demanded to see her ID to prove her gender.
'He accused me of being a man in the women's bathroom,' Baker told Karedes.
Baker and Victor were attending a Kentucky Derby party at the hotel on Saturday when they were ordered to leave the premises.
'Literally, left on the sidewalk, both of us crying and shaking,' Victor recalled. 'We even heard awful comments as we were walking out of the bathroom.'
In a statement in response to the incident, a spokesperson for Liberty Hotel said that the guard involved had been 'suspended from their position' and that "mandatory retraining for all staff" was in order following the conclusion of an investigation into the 'serious matter.'
'The general manager is reaching out to the individuals involved today,' the statement said. 'The hotel is conducting mandatory retraining for all staff on inclusive practices and guest interaction protocols, with a particular focus on creating a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ individuals."
The hotel also plans to donate to a local LGBTQ+ organization on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia on May 17.
'The Liberty Hotel is and always will be an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and a place where everyone is welcome and celebrated,' the statement continued. 'We will continue to educate and train our team to ensure that everyone feels safe and accepted within our four walls, and guests who do not show tolerance and acceptance towards others will be removed.'
The hotel initially alleged that the couple violated a policy that forbids two adults in one bathroom stall, a claim that Baker and Victor denied.
'Once the stall door opened, and I'm the only one in there, it escalated further,' explained Baker. 'I don't think that aligns with what they're saying.'
The couple told Boston 25 News that they planned to alert Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's office about their experience.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dorchester man arrested on firearm, drug charges following search warrant
A Dorchester man is facing firearm and drug charges after a search warrant was executed. According to Boston police, on Thursday, June 5, around 8:43 a.m., officers were conducting a drug investigation and executing of search warrants in the area of 223 Callender Street in Dorchester. During the search, officers recovered a Taurus 9MM with seven rounds in the magazine, a firearm holster, and. one loose round of ammunition. Police arrested 27-year-old Ronald Cox of Dorchester on multiple firearm and drug-related charges. Drug-related evidence that was recovered was one plastic bag of crack cocaine, six unknown pills, drug packaging material, digital scales, and $667 in U.S. currency. Cox is facing the following charges: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Unlawful Possession of Ammunition Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance Possession with Intent to Distribute, Subsequent Offense Cox was taken into custody and he is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man charged in deadly crash that killed Endicott police sergeant extradited to N.H.
The man accused in a deadly crash that killed an Endicott police sergeant was arrested and extradited to New Hampshire on Friday. According to New Hampshire State Police, officers obtained an extraditable arrest warrant in December and charged Keoma Duarte, 40 of New Bedford with two felony counts of reckless conduct and one misdemeanor count of disobeying an officer. Prosecutors say Keoma Duarte was so drunk the night before Thanksgiving that officers could smell the alcohol on him as they worked to free him from his crumpled Tesla on Interstate 95 near Newbury. Duarte's Tesla had slammed head-on into a car that Endicott College Police Sgt. Jeremy Cole was driving, killing the 49-year-old husband and father of four as he drove home from work. Duarte, 40, was arraigned on vehicular homicide and manslaughter charges from his hospital bed in December. He spoke only once, acknowledging he could hear the judge. On June 3rd, NH troopers traveled to Bristol County Jail and House of Correction in Massachusetts and took Duarte into custody. Duarte was then transported back to New Hampshire, where he was held at the Rockingham County Department of Corrections ahead of arraignment on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Hampton District Court. Jeremy Cole was a police sergeant at Endicott College. News of his death shook the close-knit community of students and staff. The crash remains under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Massachusetts teacher accused of lying about college degrees, Purple Heart
A woman who had worked in several Massachusetts school districts is accused of lying about her college degrees and falsely claiming to be a Purple Heart recipient, officials say. Lissa Lagasse, 57, of Lowell, was arrested Friday morning after an Essex County Grand Jury voted to issue 21 indictments against her for allegedly lying that she had undergraduate and advanced college degrees. She also falsely claimed to be a retired military combat veteran and a Purple Heart recipient, according to the Essex County District Attorney's office. Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta says Lagasse was hired as a science teacher at the high school in September. After an incident involving her service animal, details and inconsistencies involving her background and credentials came under scrutiny. 'The district immediately placed her on administrative leave and conducted a thorough investigation. At the time of hire, Ms. Lagasse held a valid teaching license, and standard reference checks were completed with her previous school districts, with no concerns reported,' Marotta said. 'As soon as red flags surfaced, the district acted swiftly and responsibly, prioritizing the safety and trust of our students, families, and staff. We have no further public comment due to the ongoing police investigation.' Lagasse also taught in Lowell and Worcester, according to the DA's office. The charges Lagasse is facing include three counts of pretending to hold degrees, identity fraud, reckless endangerment of a child, three counts of procurement fraud, two counts of stolen valor, six counts of uttering at common law, intimidation of a witness, three counts of larceny in excess of $1,200, and being a common and notorious thief in violation of Massachusetts law. Lagasse pleaded not guilty to the charges in Salem Superior Court Friday afternoon. Bail was set at $25,000. If she posts bail, she will be ordered to home confinement with GPS monitoring. She is due to return in court on Monday, July 28, the DA's office says. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
