Liberty Hotel Settles Discrimination Case for $10,000 After Bathroom Incident

BOSTON, MA — The Liberty Hotel has agreed to a $10,000 settlement following an incident where a woman was ejected from a women’s restroom in May. Officials stated that the hotel will also update its non-discrimination policies and provide training to staff as part of the settlement orchestrated with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).

The settlement comes after Ansley Baker and her girlfriend, Liz Victor, were confronted by a security guard who questioned Baker’s gender while the couple used the restroom. Despite Baker presenting her ID to confirm her gender, the guard continued to remove them from the premises. Baker and Victor denied any wrongdoing and have expressed their intent to sue the hotel.

Attorney Lenny Kesten, representing Baker, criticized the initial hotel statements about the incident, claiming they portrayed Baker and Victor inaccurately. “Somebody, I suspect more than one person, at the upper levels of the corporation decided to trash Ms. Baker and Ms. Victor,” Kesten said.

Liberty Hotel’s spokesperson confirmed that the establishment has worked with MCAD to resolve issues related to discrimination and has committed to ongoing staff sensitivity training. However, they acknowledged that Baker and Victor intend to pursue separate legal action against the hotel.

The initial incident ignited public backlash, with MCAD chairwoman Sunila Thomas George stating the hotel’s actions were demeaning and unjust. “This outrageous incident at the Liberty Hotel left these two women emotionally shaken, humiliated, and deeply distressed,” George added.

Hotel general manager Mark Fischer later apologized and clarified that the initial statement did not reflect the company’s values. Fischer reaffirmed their commitment to creating an inclusive environment, noting that they would continue to work with MCAD to improve their practices.

The incident became a significant matter of public concern, with implications for business practices relating to gender identity and discrimination within hospitality settings.