Lesbian Kiss Sparks Controversy at Seattle Mariners game

Jayman · 06-05-2008, 12:46 PM

source: foxnews.com

Quote:

SEATTLE — Most of the time, a kiss is just a kiss in the stands at Seattle Mariners games. The crowd hardly even pays attention when fans smooch.

But then last week, a lesbian complained that an usher at Safeco Field asked her to stop kissing her date because it was making another fan uncomfortable.

The incident has exploded on local TV, on talk radio and in the blogosphere and has touched off a debate over public displays of affection in generally gay-friendly Seattle.

"Certain individuals have not yet caught up. Those people see a gay or lesbian couple and they stare or say something," said Josh Friedes of Equal Rights Washington. "This is one of the challenges of being gay. Everyday things can become sources of trauma."

As the Mariners played the Boston Red Sox on May 26, Sirbrina Guerrero and her date were approached in the third inning by an usher who told them their kissing was inappropriate, Guerrero said.
The usher, Guerrero said, told them he had received a complaint from a woman nearby who said that there were kids in the crowd of nearly 36,000 and that parents would have to explain why two women were kissing.

"I was really just shocked," Guerrero said. "Seattle is so gay-friendly. There was a couple like seven rows ahead making out. We were just showing affection."

On Monday, Mariners spokeswoman Rebecca Hale said that the club is investigating but that the usher was responding to a complaint of two women "making out" and "groping" in the stands.
"We have a strict non-discrimination policy at the Seattle Mariners and at Safeco Field, and when we do enforce the code of conduct it is based on behavior, not on the identity of those involved," Hale said.

The code of conduct — announced before each game — specifically mentions public displays of affection that are "not appropriate in a public, family setting." Hale said those standards are based on what a "reasonable person" would find inappropriate.

Guerrero denied she and her date were groping each other, saying that along with eating garlic fries, they were giving each other brief kisses.

On Tuesday, Guerrero said a Mariners director of guest services had apologized to her. The team spokeswoman could not immediately confirm that.

After the story broke, the Mariners were blasted by the sex-advice columnist Dan Savage, who wrote about the incident on the blog of the Stranger, an alternative weekly paper.
"I constantly see people making out," Savage said. "My son has noticed and asked, `Do they show the ballgame on women's foreheads?"'

Savage called for a "kiss-in" to protest against the Mariners.
Web sites have been swamped with blog postings for and against Guerrero and her date. And the story has people talking in Seattle.

"I would be uncomfortable" seeing public displays of affection between lesbians or gay men, said Jim Ridneour, a 54-year-old taxi driver. "I don't think it's right seeing women kissing in public. If I had my family there, I'd have to explain what's going on."

"It all depends on the degree," Mark Ackerman said as he waited for a hot dog outside Safeco Field before Wednesday's game. "Even for heterosexual couples."

Read the rest of this article on foxnews.com if you desire.

So how do you feel about this? We've talked about the gay community a ton around here, but I don't know if we've ever discuseed ramifications of PDA.

Do you think that gays and lesbians should be free to hug, kiss, etc in public, without backlash, just as heterosexual couples do? Or do you feel it could open up a whole can of worms with kids being around and asking questions, as stated in the above article?

Simply put: how would you have reacted if you were at this game?

Duke · 06-05-2008, 12:49 PM

since its two girls i prolly would of cheered them on just as a joke but would of prolly threw up if it was two guys.

im one of the few that doesnt care to see girl on girl action, id rather be in there myself

Dakstang · 06-05-2008, 12:50 PM

I would not be comfortable letting kids see that.

Slimdust · 06-05-2008, 12:54 PM

Well I think there is a time and a place for everything. And without video we have no idea what was really going on, was it just a peck every once in awhile? Making out? Groping?

If it was anything more then a peck then I believe that the girls shouldnt be doing it. That goes for girl on girl, guy on guy, or girl on guy. PDA. But I think if your gay, no matter how you feel on the situation, you should atleast think about the kids and the paretns. I know if I was there and had kids with me, I wouldnt want them to see that, and I would hate to have to explain why two girls are kissing eachother in that way.

Suffy · 06-05-2008, 12:55 PM

I'm not comfortable with my kids seeing people eat garlic fries, how do you think the garlic feels, it's totally unacceptable for two people to harm such an incident bystander in such a way, I will not stand for this kind of injustice.

Dakstang · 06-05-2008, 12:58 PM

I had a Race, Class, & Gender class this past semester and we had gay guy as a guest speaker at one point. He adressed gay people and PDA's and he said people like this were only trying to get attention. He said he would never do anything like that and it was an insult to him when he saw it because it was just gay people trying to draw attention to themselves.

That was an interesting take on this I thought.

Joseph T. Cool · 06-05-2008, 01:27 PM

I think the Mariners have a lot more to be concerned about this year then letting lesbians into their park.

The club is imploding very quickly.

Jayman · 06-05-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Cool

I think the Mariners have a lot more to be concerned about this year then letting lesbians into their park.

The club is imploding very quickly.

LOL..Joe, stay on topic!!!!

Joseph T. Cool · 06-05-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayman

LOL..Joe, stay on topic!!!!

lol sorry

I do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle but by no means should it be restricted in a public place.

At any sporting event you take the risk of your kids seeing drinking, bad behavior, stuff you don't agree with, etc.

It's your job as a parent to teach them the values that you want them to abide by or follow and point out/teach them your core value system.

In short, no gays should not be kicked out of a ballgame for kissing.

Dakstang · 06-05-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Cool

In short, no gays should not be kicked out of a ballgame for kissing.

I don't think they should be kicked out.

If they were just kissing, it should not have been a problem.

If they were making out and drawing attention to themselves, they should have been asked to stop. I think it should be the same for straight couples as well. There is a time and a place and a baseball game in front of thousands of people is definitely not the place.

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Lesbian Kiss Sparks Controversy at Seattle Mariners game

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