Boston Woman Sues Liberty Hotel for $10 Million Over Bathroom Incident

Lawsuit alleges hotel crafted defamatory story to cover up discrimination after security guard ejected woman mistaken for a man

A Boston woman who was ejected from a women's bathroom at the Liberty Hotel last May has filed a lawsuit seeking damages exceeding $10 million, alleging the hotel defamed her and her partner to cover up discriminatory treatment, Boston.com reported.

Ansley Baker and her partner, Elizabeth Victor, filed the complaint Thursday in Suffolk Superior Court, naming the hotel and several of its employees and executives as defendants, according to the January 16 report.

The lawsuit comes months after the Liberty Hotel agreed to settle a related complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. That November 2025 settlement included updated nondiscrimination policies, anti-discrimination training, and a $10,000 charitable donation to an LGBTQ+ nonprofit, Boston.com reported.

Baker and Victor were attending a Kentucky Derby watch party at the hotel on May 3, 2025, when the incident occurred. According to the lawsuit, when Baker entered a bathroom stall, a male security guard walked in and began banging on the door, accusing Baker of being a man and demanding she leave.

The women allege they were denied bathroom access "because of what Ms. Baker looks like and because they are in a lesbian relationship," the complaint states. When they showed Baker's driver's license indicating she is female, the guard threw them out of the hotel, according to Boston.com.

The lawsuit alleges the hotel "panicked" when the couple complained about the experience on social media and that executives "agreed to craft a defamatory statement, knowing it was false, suggesting that Ms. Baker and Ms. Victor were kicked out of the Liberty Hotel because they had been engaging in obscene conduct in a stall."

"The intent of the statement was to humiliate, intimidate, and defame Ms. Baker and Ms. Victor in retaliation for their complaint," the suit states, according to the report.

The hotel later walked back its initial comments, announcing it had suspended the guard and ordered mandatory retraining for staff.

Baker and Victor are suing the hotel for discrimination, retaliation, civil conspiracy, and defamation.

In a statement to Boston.com, General Manager Mark Fischer said the Liberty Hotel has apologized to Baker and Victor "several times" and spent months working with the state's discrimination commission "to address what occurred and strengthen its practices."

"We've been candid that we can do better, as it has been and remains that all guests should feel welcome at the Liberty Hotel," Fischer said. "We recognize that they have a right to bring a lawsuit, but we unequivocally deny discriminating or retaliating against them in any way."

However, a lawyer for Baker and Victor told Boston.com the women are still trying to determine who made the false claims against them and why, despite the hotel's apology and MCAD settlement.