Sports Looks Like We Need to Stage a Kiss-In at Safeco Field
posted by May 29 at 11:56 AM
onFrom KOMO:
A local lesbian couple says a peck on the lips nearly got the two of them tossed out of a Mariners game…. Sirbrina Guerrero says she only gave her date a peck, but a mother sitting with her son complained to security and, as a result, they were told to stop or leave.“And he (the security guard) goes ‘there’s a lady whose son says he saw you guys making out, and I did, too. And you have to stop.’ And I said ‘well, we weren’t making out, but we were kissing and I’m not going to stop,’” said Guerrero…. “(The security guard said) the mom doesn’t want to explain to the kids why two girls are kissing. So I said ‘well, I’m not going to stop, so you’ll have to kick me out. So he said ‘so I suggest you leave then,”’ she said.
But Guerrero and her friends don’t buy it. After Guerrero was flagged at the game, they took pictures of other couples who kissed but were not reprimanded. Those couples, they said, were heterosexual.
Sorry, mom, but if straight people can kiss on the lips at Safeco, so can we. Gay PDA is not, by definition, “lewd,” anymore than straight PDA is lewd. There’s a kiss and then there’s making out—and there’s a difference. And you’re going to have to tell your kids about the existence of gays and lesbians sometime—and if you want to avoid that conversation for as long as possible, don’t leave the house, turn off the TV, thrown out the radio, and close the blinds.
And, uh, Mariners? WTF? Other baseball teams have gay days (here’s a list)—the local Gay Chorus sings the national anthem, gay groups buy blocks of tickets—but not the Mariners. Maybe it’s time, Ms.
Comments
Yep, time for some old fashioned "consciousness raising" - bring it on
don't fall for it and buy tickets to stage a kiss-in... this is just the Mariners trolling for ticket sales
I want to get to third base with Mr. Poe. In front of everyone.
dey tink dey siht dont stink!
Right on. Why did that woman teach her children that only hetro people kiss in the first place?
I've worked security for a lot of events, that security guard was well within his right to tell the complaining woman to STFU and get a helmet.
That said, I am happily imagining Ms. Guerrero sucking face with her partner. Damn. I think the woman complained because the kissing couple were hawt chix.
Everytime you buy a ticket to the M's game you support that sort of discrimination.
This definitely calls for some coordinated civil disobedience, but a comment thread is probably not the place to arrange it. Maybe the next Slog Happy could double as a planning meeting?
@5 - I agree. My boys don't see anything odd about a same-sex kiss. That mom needs to get back to the compound and never venture out again!
Um, maybe it's just us weirdos here in Los Angeles, but at EVERY Dodgers' and Kings' game I've been to, they have a kiss camera, where couples are put on camera for the whole stadium to make out. (Of course, I've never seen a same-sex couple, but baby steps). If kissing is so horrifying, why on earth do they allow these things?
Why am I not surprised that the St Louis Cardinals aren't on the gay day list?
They have a "Kiss cam" at Cards games in between innings where they focus on a (hetro) couple and the implied thing is to kiss for the camera. Everyone cheers their rightous union, and the camera goes to another (hetro) couple. I guess this kinda thing doesn't happen at Ms games...
Also, I want to hear how the lady would have explained the two girls kissing thing to her son.
"you see, billy, sometimes two people of the same gender decide to reject god's grace and live as filthy sodomites. They all end up in hell, so love the sinner, hate the sin. You understand, don't you?"
If you're legally married, how can they object?
@7 - Is exclusively banning gay PDA at games the official policy of the Seattle Mariners or Safeco Field? I've never seen evidence that it is.
NaFun @6 is right - the security guard could've just as easily told the complaining woman to calm down and shut up. It was his call to target them for being lesbians, and for that he should be dismissed from his position for harassing paying customers.
What this actually calls for is the Mariners to make a charitable contribution to several social justice organizations and offer a loud public apology from the Team President.
This exact thing happened in Los Angeles eight years ago, and the Dodgers almost tripped over one another trying to rectify the situation before anyone called a lawyer (they were too late). Have you ever heard anything this straight-forward on the sports page?
"I was troubled ... because of what it implied about the Dodger organization," said team president Bob Graziano to [the injured parties] Danielle Goldey and Meredith Kott. "It means a lot to me that you are Dodger fans," he said . "We will continue to do the right thing."
When it was done, Goldey said "I think they stepped up to the plate more than they had to. All we wanted was an apology ... I'm very proud to be a Dodger fan."
More at: http://www.canoe.ca/BaseballArchive/aug23_dod.html
The franchise who brought you Jackie Robinson set the example. It seems to me that the clock is ticking on Howard Lincoln...
People still go to Mariner's games?
It's bad enough that gay couples might be faced with prejudice when they kiss. Now you want to make them watch a Mariners game too? They could at least go watch the team with the second-worst record in the MLB.
Erm, MLB. No "the."
Just do what I did to explain gay PDA's to my kids when they asked:
"Daddy why are those two ladies kissing?"
"Son, they are both sisters and they are from IDAHO"
Dear Mariners security,
I smell a lawsuit brewing.
@15 wins -- it's like indignantly complaining about overt racism you heard about on a bus last night from one of the six riders who was on it
In addition to being a "local lesbian", Sirbrina Guerrero is a contestant on Tila Tequila's "A Shot at Love 2".
http://www.celebrityfanchat.com/cfcblog/a-shot-at-loves-sirbrina-is-a-cover-model
GET A ROOM!! Damn, kids, snogging in public. What's this world coming to.
@11 - You see Billy, those women chose a life of discrimination and social stigmatization from us normal folks. Kind of like the Blacks used to. Does that make sense? Good.
@21, If she is trying to get with that myspace chick, why is she making out with another woman. OMG REALITY SCANDAL
I demand that a gay "fuck-in" be held up in the nosebleed sections so I can surreptitiously video tape it and sell it to some Hidden Sex Cams website...
@13, there actually *is* some sort of policy at Safeco in regards to PDA... it's usually announced live and appears on the video board at some point during the game.
Who the fuck would want to go to safeco field and over pay to see the worst team I've ever seen suck ass?
That would be a definite turn off to me.
They read and display a shorter version of this at the games, but this appears on the Mariners site:
-------------
Code of Conduct
The Seattle Mariners are committed to creating a safe, comfortable and enjoyable experience for our guests at Safeco Field.
Our staff will proactively intervene to support an environment where guests can enjoy the Safeco Field experience free from unacceptable behavior, including the following:
# Foul/abusive language or obscene gestures
# Intoxication or other signs of impairment related to alcohol consumption
# Displays of affection not appropriate in a public, family setting
# Obscene or indecent clothing
# Any disruption of the game or event, including throwing of objects or trespassing on the playing field or in restricted areas
# Sitting in a location other than the guest's ticketed seat
# Fighting, taunting, or making threatening remarks or gestures.
Any guest not adhering to the above code or behaving in an unruly manner will be removed from the ballpark. The Seattle Mariners and Safeco Field management reserve the right to determine what is unruly or unacceptable behavior, warranting removal.
If anyone is interfering with your enjoyment of our facility, please contact the nearest Safeco Field Host for assistance.
--------
I guess the management has decided that homo kissing isn't appropriate in a public, family setting. As if I needed another reason to cancel my season tickets.
I am so glad that someone beat me to posting that Sirbrina is also on Shot at Love II... I hate that I knew that immediately!
Just to play devils advocate, but how are we certain that somebody who has half naked pictures on the web and is whoring themselves out on Iamonmtv.com wasn't doing something a little more than "pecking"? Have you ever seen that god forsaken show?
@27: The joy that comes from watching asshat Red Sox fans walk away in defeat is worth every penny.
Seriously, folks, if you've never been to Fenway / didn't grow up in the Northeast, you're not a Red Sox fan. You're a bandwagon jumper. It's lame and annoying.
Also, the Red Sox will not win the AL East this year.
When a security guard says something like, "I suggest you leave." just reply, "noted." I mean, its just a suggestion right? I suggest everybody leave every baseball game in the world, its totally boring.
jewritto @30:
We're not at all certain of that. That's the way it's being reported, though, and if the story (as distinct from the reality) gathers steam, it might be reason enough to make a point to Safeco Field.
i was at a mariners game a couple of weeks ago and there was a point in the game where they put the names of all the various groups who were guests for the evening up in lights.. there was some eagle scout troops and various hish schools and chruch and civics groups. but i swear the also flashed something called 'the seattle gay adventure club' .. i swear they did.. and while the notice didn't get any cheering, it didn't get any jeering either. at least not where i was sitting. although i did catch people looking around to see where the gay adventurers were.and all they got was me grinning from ear to ear.
Wouldn't a phone call to the Mariners to ask if this is their policy (unlikely), or if this is just the overreaction of a single, low-paid employee (highly likely) be a good first step?
Or you could just jump right to the protest orgy in the bleachers...
Oh please. I worry about having to explain certain things to my daughter, like say, why the crackhead is taking a shit on the sidewalk, but as for same sex kisses, I'll just buy her the children's book. Or maybe borrow it from the library.
Viva la kiss in!
A same-sex kiss doesn't even have to be a homo thing. (Don't get me wrong, I am 100% behind our liberation).
But the point is, what sort of uptight society doesn't think it's ok for two people of any gender to have a peck on the lips? For any reason? Lord knows Geo.W.Bush has kissed V.I.Putin, on TV.
No need to be gay, or even in an intimate relationship. Happens all the time all the world over between gay and non-gay people alike.
The irony, of course, is that by trying to "protect" her son, the pinchface woman has now created a scene that will live large in his memory. Ha Ha!
Bigyaz @35:
From the KOMO article:
Safeco Field also apparently pointed KOMO to the code of conduct, citing the same line about PDA highlighted by Explorer @28 (though KOMO misquotes the line in a way that changes its meaning).
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Whoops, missed a point. Bigyaz @35:
No one (except michael strangeways @25) is proposing an orgy in the bleachers. The whole point would be to keep the kissing tame enough to violate the code of conduct.
The stadiums are paid for with taxpayer dollars. The Seattle Police are asked to cover traffic and security issues at every home game. It is City policy to support the equality of gays and lesbians. I think Mayor Nickels along with the City Council should intervene to demand that such homophobic nonsense not be tolerated in Seattle (Hi Sally Clark and Tom Rasmussen).
This kind of nonsense is why I stopped going to Safeco after a few years of season tickets. In short, they want to make it a Mormon Opera House. "Family Friendly" is right-wing codetalk, you know? It means: "Mom & Dad & Son & Daughter (all white) spend $420 to go to the game, but never actually watch the baseball action."
It would be so much better if the M's management would just have "ballpark tour days" when the team is out of town. Not just for school field trips, but for the general public (or "family fun packages"). Those that just want to see the fancy ballpark, but could care less about sliders or pine tar, can wander around and gawk. The games could be left for the actual baseball fans.
I've asked some NY friends what would happen in Yankee or Shea Stadiums if the ushers prevented the box seat owners from getting to their seats during the game. The usual response is something along the lines of "homicide". I will never understand the logic of charging people $6k+ for tickets, then actively prevent them from using them.
The Cubs have shown that the quality of the team has little to do with an exceptional ballpark experience. Treating everyone like they are sitting in the pews of a goddam church is not the way to encourage fun.
I am sooooo going to copyright, "Orgy in the Bleachers" and sell it to the highest porno bidder...maybe a vehicle for Tila Tequila and A-Rod?
Dan I think you should find out how we can encourage Safeco Field to have a gay night, I bet it would be a huge success! I often go a few times a year because we have good season tickets at work and my friends and I have a great time. But I would love a gay night and like you said look at the list of cities already doing it, come on Mariners, this is Seattle, we have a large gay community!
Yup. Bullshit. And if you were to wager, Santa Clause giving the Easter Bunny a kiss during "Louie Louie" at an M's game would be seen as cute by those same offended people.
@41 -- Check your facts.
Does the city pay the officers or does the team pay the officers?
PDAs are inappropriate when taken to the extreme most people around here do it.
Holding hands or a quick peck, sure, why not? But when the tongue comes out, the gloves come off.
Vic @ 42. I feel the same way you do about the family funfest towne centredom that Safeco markets -- ball game be damned -- but, fuck, I still go anyways.
I want to kiss Ichiro.
I'll bet the gloves aren't the only things to come off, heh-heh.
speaking of ichiro.... does he have extra padding in his seat? something about those sliding shorts that is a little....diaper-like?
"Mom, why are those women kissing?"
"They like each other."
How hard is that?
"They like each other." Works for me!
Can we just kiss outside? Who wants to pay that much money to watch them lose?
The whole story sounds fishy to me. Why would a security guard spend that much time on a kiss? Why would he make such perfectly outrageous statements?
I have no problem canning him for that behavior, but I'd tread slowly here.
I'm single. If I go to the kiss-in, will someone kiss me?
Umm.. I'm pretty sure "Bobble Head Night" means gay friendly.
Have you seen the seating hosts at Safeco field? The average age is probably 65. Sensitivity and diversity training is in order for this generation who are uninformed.
Mothers who teach their kids to discriminate or how to be bigots do not deserve to have them. This is outright homophobia that the mother disguised as an excuse that she was uncomfortable in explaning to her child why two women gave each other a kiss. Women in public all the time are seen hugging, walking hand-in-hand, etc., are they sanctioned for showing affection. I am a gay male and have watched hetero couples sit near me or stand near me kissing and making out just so they can in my face. I think it is time for the sponsors of the Seattle Mariners to get some boycotts and complaints. This is 2008 and NO ONE will push us (the gay/lesbian/bi/transexual community) back into the closet! One day that woman's child is going to walk out of her life, and disown her for the bigot that she is and she will deserve every bit of it.
Why give Safeco Field the opportunity to make money on discriminating against us (gays)? No, they deserve to be hurt in their pocket-book for discriminating. Having a gay night is really insulting to gays after their policy is to discriminate against us. The ballgame changes when they start asking hetero couples to stop kissing. They know if they got that, they would have fights.
I didn't know there was any such thing as a kiss-in! Sounds like something that would be an appropriate solution to most conflicts. Although it would be awkward to go with a friend.
Next time someone ignorant makes the news, we should do it!
my girlfriend and i went to two of the red sox games (i'm from boston, wouldn't waste my time to just see the mariners). we kissed at both games. apparently we were 'lucky' that no narrow minded people saw us. but on the way out i had words with a man making rude comments about us being gay. we came to the realization that even though seattle is a gay friendly city, sporting events bring out the homophobes.
A kiss is a kiss. As a guy I don't mind seeing two girls...or two guys kissing. As long as they aren't making out. Same with any straight couple, kiss, don't make out.
Leave some inappropriate conduct behind CLOSED doors.
For homophobes, read, cause I will only say this once.
Jesus hung out with sinners for a reason. You ever thought about that?
If you can't tolerate, then remove yourself. People have just as much rights as anyone else, whether YOU think so or not.
Read your Bibles and quit preaching when you can't apply it.
Thank you
It would be so much better if the M's management would just have "ballpark tour days" when the team is out of town. Not just for school field trips, but for the general public (or "family fun packages"). Those that just want to see the fancy ballpark, but could care less about sliders or pine tar, can wander around and gawk. The games could be left for the actual baseball fans."
That does exist. Just FYI.
Were any of you there? Did any of you actually see what happened? I'm guessing no. As such, none of you can make statements such as "the usher handled it improperly" or "the security guard should be canned." All you guys have to go on is what the parties involved have to say--not the most reliable sources. Both parties are probably in the wrong, but don't go putting it all on the ballpark. They don't have any obligation to donate large sums of money to any gay rights groups, nor should they feel the need to "trip over themselves" and try and clean this up before they get sued, because they shouldn't be getting sued. I think anyone who sues over this is just looking for money. If a hetero couple sued, would they be awarded any money, or simply laughed at?
I'm all for people kissing whomever they want. I'm female, but I'll kiss both guys and girls. I don't, however, go out and make out and grope either one of them in public. If it makes me a prude to say that I don't like excess PDA in public, so be it.
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