In a deeply troubling incident at the Liberty Hotel in Boston, a security guard has been suspended after being accused of forcibly removing a woman from a restroom and questioning her gender. The incident has sparked significant backlash from the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, raising concerns about how heightened anti-trans rhetoric is affecting public spaces, even in progressive areas like Massachusetts.
The Incident
On Saturday, May 3, Ansley Baker and her girlfriend, Liz Victor, attended a Kentucky Derby party at the Liberty Hotel in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. While using the women’s restroom in the lobby, Baker, a cisgender woman, was confronted by a male security guard who entered the restroom and began banging on the stall door. Baker, who was still adjusting her shorts, was told to leave the bathroom because the guard claimed she was a man.
Baker, visibly shaken, insisted she was a woman, but the guard demanded to see her ID to prove her gender. Feeling intimidated, Baker complied. As she exited the restroom, other women waiting in line made derogatory remarks, with one reportedly saying, “Get him out of here.” Baker later described the experience as “humiliating” and said it was her “worst nightmare come true.”
According to Baker, the guard continued to question her gender and forced both her and Victor to leave the hotel. The couple later took to social media to share their experience, prompting widespread outrage and calls for accountability.
Hotel Response
Following the incident, the Liberty Hotel released a statement confirming that the security guard had been suspended pending an investigation. The hotel emphasized its commitment to being an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and pledged to provide additional training to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all guests.
“The Liberty Hotel is and always will be an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and a place where everyone is welcome and celebrated,” the statement read. The hotel also committed to donating to a local LGBTQ+ organization on May 17, in recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia.
However, Baker expressed frustration that despite the hotel’s public apology, management had not personally reached out to her, even though they had contacted her girlfriend.
A Reflection of a Larger Problem
LGBTQ+ advocates warn that this incident is not isolated but is symptomatic of a larger issue where rising anti-trans rhetoric has made public restrooms increasingly hostile spaces for anyone who does not conform to rigid gender expectations. Even in a progressive city like Boston, the impact of nationwide debates on trans rights and bathroom policies can lead to harmful confrontations.
Nina Selvaggio, the executive director of Greater Boston PFLAG, brought attention to this issue, stating that harassment in public restrooms is a long-standing issue for gender-nonconforming individuals, lesbians, and women in general. The surge in national anti-trans rhetoric is contributing to an increased policing of women’s bodies and their expression of gender.”
Baker’s experience sheds light on the broader challenges faced not just by transgender women but by anyone who does not meet narrow stereotypes of femininity. While Baker and Victor received an outpouring of support from the LGBTQ+ community and allies, Baker noted that her experience reflects what trans women endure on a regular basis.
“This isn’t the first time this has happened, and unfortunately, I don’t think it will be the last,” Baker said. “We just hope it doesn’t happen again and that other people who go through this receive the same support.”
The Bottom Line
The incident at the Liberty Hotel serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing struggle for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals to safely access public spaces. It underscores the need for better training and awareness around gender diversity, as well as a cultural shift toward acceptance and respect.
While the Liberty Hotel has taken initial steps to address the issue, advocates stress that a long-term commitment to inclusive practices and community engagement is necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future. As the national conversation around transgender rights continues to evolve, it remains crucial to ensure that policies aimed at protecting one group do not harm others in the process.
