Same-Sex Couple Removed From Hotel Restroom After Guard Asks For Proof Of Gender

News18

08-05-2025

Last Updated:
Ansley Baker, 28, and her girlfriend Liz Victor, 27, had checked into The Liberty Hotel over the weekend to attend a Kentucky Derby-themed party.
In a troubling incident that sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ advocates, a same-sex couple visiting a hotel in Boston, US, was allegedly harassed by a male security guard over one partner's gender expression – an encounter they describe as humiliating and frightening.
Ansley Baker, 28, and her girlfriend Liz Victor, 27, had checked into The Liberty Hotel over the weekend to attend a Kentucky Derby-themed party. According to a CBS News report, the evening took an unsettling turn when the couple entered the women's restroom which led to a confrontation that drew widespread attention.
Baker, who is a woman by birth and identifies as female, presents with a masculine appearance. Her attire and haircut often prompt people to mistake her for a man. But nothing could have prepared her for what happened next.
While Baker was inside a restroom stall and Victor waited in the lobby area, a male security guard entered the women's bathroom unannounced and began banging on the stall door. According to the couple, the guard accused Baker of being a man and demanded she leave the women's restroom immediately. When she emerged, visibly shaken, she attempted to explain she was a woman but the guard wasn't convinced. He reportedly insisted she present identification to 'prove" her gender.
Victor, alarmed by the escalating scene, intervened. She said the guard continued his aggressive stance, even after Baker produced her ID. The couple recounted that the guard's imposing presence and hostile tone made them feel unsafe, but Baker complied out of fear. Despite showing proof, she was still ordered to leave the restroom.
The situation only worsened once they stepped outside. Other women in line, misled by the guard's claims, reportedly hurled verbal abuses at Baker, accusing her of being a man who had infiltrated the women's space.
What began as a night out ended with the couple being asked to leave the premises altogether. Though the hotel later stated it had fired the security guard following an internal investigation, Baker and Victor say the damage was done, and they never received a direct apology.
In a written statement issued on Tuesday, The Liberty Hotel emphasised its support for the LGBTQ+ community and said the guard had acted on a misunderstanding, claiming he believed two people had entered a restroom together, a possible violation of hotel policy.
But Baker and Victor have dismissed that explanation. They argue that when the guard entered the restroom, only one person – Baker – was in a stall, and Victor was clearly standing outside. They question why, if the guard was merely concerned about occupancy, he instead demanded proof of gender and continued pressing even after being corrected.
'This was a deeply disturbing experience," said Baker, adding, 'I've never been treated like that in my life, especially in a place that claimed to be inclusive."
The incident sparked renewed discussion about the challenges faced by gender-nonconforming individuals, particularly in gendered spaces like restrooms.
First Published:
May 08, 2025, 14:20 IST