Usher at ballpark tells couple to stop kissing

[Alonzo]

SEATTLE (AP) — 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.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hOad7MrHB-xGaWYJAIvKTV0eAZugD913STT00

[micfranklin]

Way to have your priorities in check, usher.

[cronic]

I think the usher should be bytch slapped and fired
Anyone else?

[Saigio]

I think the usher should have talked to the other couple too.
After all, they were violating the code of conduct just as much as the lesbian couple.

[Professor]

Anyone else think this girl is pandering for attention?


Since the incident, Guerrero's job and her past have come under scrutiny. She works at a bar known for scantily clad women and was a contestant on the MTV reality show "A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila," in which women and men compete for the affection of a bisexual Internet celebrity.


This is something important obviously, but more attention. I don't know if she went the the news with it, or if it got picked up. But it is bringing more attention to her, which is obviously something she likes.

[micfranklin]

I think the usher should have talked to the other couple too.
After all, they were violating the code of conduct just as much as the lesbian couple.

The thing about that code of conduct is that anything could be interpreted differently.

[Professor]

I think the usher should have talked to the other couple too.
After all, they were violating the code of conduct just as much as the lesbian couple.

We don't know that he didn't. But 'Hetrosexual couple asked to stop kissing in ballpark' just doesn't have the same effect as 'lesbian couple asked to stop kissing in ballpark.'

[jafar00]

Was the kissing a quick affectionate peck on the cheek? Or a full on "pash"?
There is a time and a place for sexual activity to take place. It's shameful for anyone to carry on that way in public if they were being over amorous.

[micfranklin]

It's also shameful that people can't mind their own fucking business and pay attention to something that really makes a difference.

[Alonzo]

And there's the fact that every time I go to a celtics game they have segments set up to show people kissing. It often shows couples and expects them to kiss when they're on the jumbo screen.

[micfranklin]

And there's the fact that every time I go to a celtics game they have segments set up to show people kissing. It often shows couples and expects them to kiss when they're on the jumbo screen.

So Boston encourages attention whor-ism or something?

[NortheastCynic]

I've been to dozens of Celtics and Bruins games and it's tastefully done. It really isn't a big deal, nor is a same-sex couple kissing at game.

That said, unless the team has rules saying that ushers cannot act as this one did, what he did was perfectly within his authority.

-NC

[Alonzo]

So Boston encourages attention whor-ism or something?

Just normal sporting event things. People like being on the jumbo screen and react when they see themselves. I saw the same thing in Chicago when I was at a Bulls game, though I don't remember if they had the kissing one.

That said, unless the team has rules saying that ushers cannot act as this one did, what he did was perfectly within his authority.

I think it mentioned a rule about discriminating. So unless this was normal for him and kissing fans, unlikely given his reasoning of parents having two explain kissing women, it violated the rules.

[NortheastCynic]

I think it mentioned a rule about discriminating. So unless this was normal for him and kissing fans, unlikely given his reasoning of parents having two explain kissing women, it violated the rules.Yep, Zo, you're right; missed that part, I stand corrected.

-NC