A transgender woman from Nebraska has filed a federal lawsuit against Hilton, alleging she was sexually assaulted by a hotel employee while staying at a Dallas property during Pride celebrations earlier this year.
According to court filings and statements from her legal team, Kimberly Barnett, an Afro-Latina transgender woman, was staying at the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre in late June when the alleged assault occurred. Barnett filed the lawsuit on December 9 after efforts to resolve the matter privately with Hilton were unsuccessful.
Barnett was in Dallas from June 20 through June 24 to attend LGBTQ+ Pride events. On the night of June 23, the lawsuit alleges she was approached in the hotel lobby by a security guard who offered to take her car keys for valet parking. The employee is later accused of following Barnett to her hotel room on the 20th floor without her consent.
The complaint states that once they reached her room, the employee entered her space carrying towels she had not requested and refused to leave immediately. Barnett alleges she feared for her safety after the employee crossed personal boundaries and entered her room without permission.
In a statement included with the lawsuit, Barnett said she expected privacy and safety when checking into the hotel. Instead, she described feeling frightened and vulnerable during the encounter.
“As a Black and Latina trans woman, I live with an added awareness of how quickly situations can become dangerous when someone’s identity is known,” Barnett said. “I feared for my physical safety.”
Barnett is represented by Tolbert and Associates Law, which alleges that Hilton failed to adequately train and supervise its staff. The lawsuit also claims that during follow-up communications with Hilton representatives, Barnett was repeatedly misgendered and her concerns were minimized, contributing to her decision to pursue legal action.
The lawsuit alleges negligence and seeks damages, along with changes to company policies and training practices to prevent similar incidents in the future. Attorneys for Barnett argue that the case highlights broader concerns about the safety of transgender guests in public accommodations.
The case adds to ongoing national conversations around transgender safety, particularly in public spaces such as hotels, transportation hubs, and entertainment venues. Advocacy groups have long warned that transgender women of color face heightened risks of harassment and violence, especially when traveling.
Legal experts note that civil lawsuits such as Barnett’s can serve both as a mechanism for accountability and as a tool for encouraging institutional reform. The outcome of the case could influence how large hospitality companies address staff training, guest safety, and responses to complaints involving transgender patrons.
The lawsuit remains pending in federal court.
