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Friday, May 30, 2008

So About Those Lesbians Kissing at Safeco Field…

posted by on May 30 at 10:05 AM

Apparently I got the attention of the Mariners organization when I floated the idea of a kiss-in at Safeco Field. A kiss-in, I suggested, might be an appropriate way to protest the treatment a lesbian couple received at a game on Wednesday night. Early in the evening yesterday an email arrived from Rebecca Hale, Director of Public Information for the Seattle Mariners, with this subject line: “Kiss In.” The text of Hale’s email: “Call me.”

“We’re trying to find out what happened,” Hale told me when we spoke. Earlier in the day Hale told the PI, according to Monica Guzman, that staff had received a complaint about two women not just kissing, but “groping.” Hale also told me that the complaint wasn’t just about lesbians kissing, but about “kissing and groping.”

The addition of a groping to the kissing charges already leveled against her came as shock to Sirbrina Guerrero, the 23 year-old accused. “Oh, my God,” said Guerrero when I got her on the phone, “that is so far from the truth, it’s ridiculous.”

Guerrero points out that when KOMO first talked to the Mariners about the incident, the organization didn’t say anything about groping.

“When did their story change?” asks Guerrero. “When they came up to us during the game we were were told to stop kissing, that a woman had complained about her kids seeing two women kissing. We were told to stop ‘making out,’ and now all of the sudden we’re making out and groping? Where did that come from?”

Jordin Silver, a friend who was at the game with Guerrero, also rejects the “groping” charge. “She was there with a girl she is dating,” said Silver, “and they hadn’t seen each other in a while. So they were holding hands, a peck here and there. Nothing inappropriate for a setting with children.”

Silver also points out that “there were tons of straight people kissing all over,” and no one was bothering these opposite-sex couples. She took this picture of a straight couple a few rows in front of their group—a straight couple “making out” right in front of a child, no less.

Hale insists that the Mariners don’t necessarily believe the women were kissing and groping, only that the complaint, as they understand it now, included both the “K” and “G” words.

“What we’re trying to do now is figure out exactly what happened,” said Hale. “We need to talk to as many of the folks who were there as possible.”

To that end The Ms are following up with the women who were told they would have to stop kissing or face ejection from the park and the “seating hosts” who were involved. If the seating hosts were in the wrong—if they applied a different standard to same-sex kissing than they were applying to opposite-sex kissing—then “appropriate actions will be taken,” said Hale. “If we have an employee who is not interpreting our policy correctly, we’ll deal with that.”

It’s hard not to see how this dispute ends at anything besides a seat-host-says/lesbian-couple-says impasse. Guerrero and her friends say that she wasn’t “making out” with her date, there were only a quick few kisses, and they’re adamant that there was no groping going on. The woman that complained about them (who no one has talked to), and the seat host that told they would have to knock it off or risk being ejected (who only the Ms are talking to), may see things—the same things—very differently. Many heterosexuals regard any signs of same-sex affection as shove-it-down-our-throats assaults on all things good and decent. A straight kiss is cute, a lesbian kiss is lewd; a boy with arm around the shoulder of a girl is endearing, a boy with his arm around another boy is groping. So we may have too wildly different takes on the exact same dyke PDA here, and it’s hard to see what action the Ms will be able to take after this investigation is over—besides, perhaps, a “we’ll never know what really happened” shrug. Which is probably just what the Ms want.

Finally, while I had Guerrero on the phone I asked her about something that’s been raised in comments, a fact about Guerrero, who works at Cowgirls Inc., that some of her friends think is the reason the Ms are suddenly floating the groping charge: Guerrero was a contestant on the latest installment of the VH1 dating show A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila.

“There’s a difference between the way you act on a show like that and the way you act when you’re in place like a ballpark,” said Guerrero. “It’s offensive to me to suggest that I don’t know the difference, that I don’t know the difference between a VH1 reality dating show and a Mariners’ game.”

RSS icon Comments

1

I guess I just don't understand why anyone is kissing anyone at a baseball game.

Posted by Mr. Poe | May 30, 2008 10:12 AM
2

"A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila"

Eew, gross!

Posted by Sirkowski | May 30, 2008 10:15 AM
3

Isn't dating and kissing a significant part of what the 300 level of Safeco is all about?

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | May 30, 2008 10:19 AM
5

Dang. Are Directors of Public Information always so terse and demanding?


Posted by leek | May 30, 2008 10:22 AM
6

so do we get a kiss-in or not?

Posted by adamski | May 30, 2008 10:22 AM
7

This reminds me of the guy who was removed for wearing a Yankees Suck T-shirt, except a lot more insensitive.

Bottom line is the Mariners suck, their security sucks and their front office is a joke. Instead of staging a kiss-in, people should just avoid the Safeco field altogether.

Posted by Clint | May 30, 2008 10:25 AM
8

I'm with Mr. Poe on this one. Who kisses at a baseball game? Color me puzzled.

I'm not saying, though, that the M's acted right. They certainly didn't.

Posted by Balt-O-Matt | May 30, 2008 10:36 AM
9

Sorry, but appearing in "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila" is definitely appropriate grounds for ejection from Safeco.

Posted by brett | May 30, 2008 10:39 AM
10

Sure, there's a huge difference between kissing in front of a few thousand while in the stands of a stadium and doing it on a tv show in front of millions of viewers nationwide.

(sure, only a hundred at tops could have actually seen the kissing unless it's on the jumbo-tron, but you get the point)

Posted by unwelcomed | May 30, 2008 10:40 AM
11

I wonder if the Cubs have specifically designated the bleacher seats at Wrigley a "non-family friendly" zone. Based on the number of times I've been propositioned there (my favorite was the group of wasted cops from Minneapolis), I would guess so.

Posted by Julie | May 30, 2008 10:44 AM
12

@9, so is working at Cowgirls, Inc. Why anyone takes this woman seriously is beyond me. Her resume (and fake tan) scream things that would not be acceptable at Safeco.

Posted by joykiller | May 30, 2008 10:56 AM
13

Fuck you, Joykiller. I have friends that work in the sex industry and they've gone to ballgames and sat there and refrained—for nine whole innings—from turning tricks in the stands. Sheesh.

Posted by Dan Savage | May 30, 2008 11:00 AM
14

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I know this, but "A Shot at Love" is on MTV, not VH1.

Posted by DJ | May 30, 2008 11:16 AM
15

If we are gonna have two women kicked out for a light peck - then any and all hetro-couples should be kicked out as well. I've seen MANY couples engaged in a make-out session and didn't bat an eye of disbelief or concern. If we are going to go this far - might as well have a dress code since some of the women that attend the games wear hardly anything - beach attire at a baseball game?? Might as well include a height and weight limit - or go as far as your hair style - anyone with a weird hairstyle will not be allowed in the game... or how about interracial couples? They don't get any rights either!!
SOUND LIKE ITS GOING TO FAR??
WELL - IT IS - IT'S FRIGGIN 2008 PEOPLE -
PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND DEAL WITH IT.

Posted by Jazz | May 30, 2008 11:32 AM
16

Come on, Dan. I don't think joykiller was suggesting that the woman is turning tricks in the stands; I think he was suggesting that she seems like an attention whore. I tend to agree:

http://iamonmtv.com/personality/235030/blog/listing

What better way to gain further notoriety, than by ginning up a gay-rights "controversy" at Safeco field? It's a PR agent's wet dream.

Posted by A Non Imus | May 30, 2008 11:33 AM
17

@9 and @12 win.

Posted by Will in Seattle | May 30, 2008 12:23 PM
18

"So we may have too wildly different takes on the exact same dyke PDA here"

Two.

Posted by pedant | May 30, 2008 1:03 PM
19

I'm confused why she would think her being on that ridiculous show would have anything to do with this? Does she really think she's a celebrity now? So much so that some random homophobe and a seat host recognized her as a crazy bi-sexual asian girl lover and decided she needed to be harassed?

I'm sure nobody recognized her, and therefore her appearance on the show or her job at some skanky bar has nothing to do with it.

Posted by fs | May 30, 2008 1:26 PM
20

I have partaken in hetero making out and groping at Safeco on more than one occassion and we never got thrown out.

Anyway, whatever else this girl is doing in her life has nothing to do with how she should be treated in a public venue like Safeco field...this is America after all. Nude models, adult film stars, dancers, and yes, reality TV show contestants all have the same rights that the rest of us enjoy...PDA's included.

Posted by kealabeam | May 30, 2008 3:54 PM
21

Wow, how shocking that some people write off claims of discrimination because "omg she was on that horrid show" or "she works at THAT bar" so she must just be trying to get attention. I mean, it's so blatantly obvious that's what's going on here. I mean, just LOOK at her fake tan.

I have to laugh at the ignorance. See, the problem with judging people you don't know is that other people DO know them. So while you might feel a bit smug at having bashed a complete stranger's credibility via the internet, just remember that in the end you simply look like a judgmental douche to all the people that actually know the person. :)

Posted by LD | May 30, 2008 8:01 PM
22

so to fs. She's not implying that this has anything to do with the show. And that skanky bar is prolly one that you hang out at every weekend. She obviously has strong feelings about equal rights, which is a lot more that a lot of you can say, so what's the big deal she pecked her damn g/f. It's a free country and hetero's do it all the time, so pull your heads out of your asses, after all it is 2008

Posted by BriX | May 30, 2008 8:13 PM
23

Agreeing with LD here. Those that know Sirbrina can vouch for her character. What happened at Safeco was wrong. Fundamentally WRONG- And has nothing to do with her appearance on TV or her tan [jesus, really?].

KOMO's reference to Tila seemed like a cheap attempt to discredit her story, which is unfortunate. Reality shows are not real, people. THIS is real, and THIS is what we should not be tolerating.

Posted by Amy | May 31, 2008 6:06 AM
24

I really can't beleive that people can just write this whole thing off. I feel like a lot of people, this should not have happened. For safeco to change their facts and then to have KOMO bring up other facts about her personal life, is just amazing to me. As a result people are questioning Sabrina's character and in my mind that is more insulting than embarrassing her and her date at the game. Kissing is an acceptable form of appreciation for another person, no matter who they are. I am appalled at the way the M's and Safeco feild are approaching this whole thing. The statement that we need all the fans we can get this season so why would be descriminate against someone is rediculous to me. How about representing your organization and what it represents, "Baseball, the american pass time" I really wanted to go see a game this year, but after this ordeal, it is not happening.

Posted by Margaret | May 31, 2008 11:08 AM
25

What I don't understand is why the Mariners are being held responsible for the actions of an obviously closed-minded "seating host". Did one of the players come out and complain about them kissing? No - the players had nothing to do with it. Don't hold them responsible for what one idiot did.

Posted by Kelly | June 5, 2008 9:07 AM
26

Seriously folks, there is a time and place and the ball game is not the place. OK, in certain circumstances it might be the place, but definitely not during the game. I don’t care if they are gay, lesbian or straight. Keep that crap at the club or at home. Try having just a little bit if couth.

I'm not buying the fact that it was light peck kisses; I doubt anyone would notice if that was the case. If I'm being honest, being there by myself it would probably be cool after all I am just a man, but I take my kids to the ballpark. It’s not a same sex issue (really, who cares who’s doing it); it a situational issue.

Posted by Joe | June 5, 2008 9:18 AM
27

I think this is a perfect opportunity to sue the Mariners over their code of conduct policy . I don't think their what a "reasonable person" would find offensive would ever stand up in court.

Posted by Chris | June 5, 2008 10:08 AM
28

First off, why is this really an issue? In 2008? Really?

People need to really open their eyes to the times we live in. In a year where a black man is going to be elected president (huge progressive move forward), we're deadlocked in a conflict that has created a deficit larger than any before seen in American history, and gas prices cost more than college tuition, the front page of the news is broadcasting about a kiss? Are you kidding me?

Whether people like it or not, couples, of all sexes and creeds are going to kiss at a ball game. Deal with it. For those saying that a kiss isn't made for the ball field, how ignorant are you? How many sports movies are out there that the hero at the end of the game gets down from the shoulders of their teammates only to come in contact with his or her beloved ON THE FIELD!

Also, concerning the Mariners and their double standard policies. While they state before every game that inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated...answer me this...Why would they then create a promotion entitled "Singles Night"??? You sell discounted tickets and place all these singles in an area together, expecting them to get to know each other and basically, go home and hook up. If you deem this sort of behavior inappropriate, why then do you promote it?

Fucking hypocrites.

Finally, I must say that if I was at a Mariners game lately I'd probably kiss anybody around me too, just to keep the boredom at bay.

Posted by Steve | June 5, 2008 1:05 PM
29

I would think that SAFECO would be wired for sound. Meaning, there should be video showing exactly how intense this “fondness” was. Dollar to a doughnut, it was more than a smack on the cheek.
Second, Seattle is very liberal. To shock people here, you really have to try hard. Obviously, you haven't been to a Storm game. Give the girl an extra minute of fame then lets move on.
Think we need to be careful before we create an atmosphere where people can go into a public forum, act outlandish and then sue cause they feel their rights have been violated.
BTW the Mariners won they game, maybe they should invite them back.

Posted by Gritz | June 5, 2008 2:06 PM
30

Question for everyone talking about how the ballgame isn't the appropriate time or place to kiss:

Next time my girlfriend and I are at a Giants game, can we complain about the disgusting displays of overt heterosexuality on the Jumbotron during the "Kiss Cam" segment? Funny how het couples are positively encouraged to stick their tongues down each other's throats.

Posted by Darkrose | June 6, 2008 7:28 PM

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