A lesbian couple who were holidaying in Hawaii got arrested for displaying public affection in a grocery store, and have sued for discrimination, resulting in a $US80,000 ($110,000AUD) settlement.
The couple, Courtney Wilson and Taylor Guerrero were out shopping when a police officer saw them kissing and holding hands in a grocery store. He told them to “Take it somewhere else”, and the couple finished their shopping when he caught them showing affection again. He asked the manager to have them removed, and approached them when they were in line to pay for their shopping.
Courtney pulled out her phone to call the emergency line and complain of unlawful discrimination and harassment, when the police officer grabbed her wrist, preventing her from making the call. There was a conflict in which the police officer threw Taylor to the ground and struck Courtney, and the couple were arrested with assault, and kept in jail for three days.
They ended up suing the city, and eventually dropped the charges when they were offered a $110,000AUD settlement. During the holiday, they had to spend all their budget on bail and ended up sleeping a park for the last few nights.
Courtney said, “I’m glad it’s over, but at the same time, we wanted the officer to suffer some sort of repercussion,” Ms Wilson said.
