The Dodgers apologized and will donate 5,000 tickets to
gay and lesbian organizations over the next three years "in
the face of potential protests and a lawsuit" stemming from
an August 8 incident that "saw a lesbian couple ejected from
Dodger Stadium," according to Bill Plunkett of the ORANGE
COUNTY REGISTER. The two women, Danielle Goldey and
Meredith Kott, were at the Cubs-Dodgers game when "fans
seated around them complained to ushers about the couple
kissing. Stadium security personnel responded and the two
were escorted from the stadium." In light of the incident,
the team also "promised to have employees participate in a
sensitivity training program that will be monitored by gay
and lesbian organizations" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/24).
In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes that Dodgers President Bob
Graziano, "in perhaps his most important public act" since
being named to the post, met with Goldey and and Kott
Wednesday to apologize. Graziano: "We want everybody in
this entire city to feel comfortable coming out here,
regardless of their ethnicity or gender or socioeconomic
background. We wouldn't have asked a heterosexual couple to
leave, but we did with the lesbian couple ... and that was
an error in judgment. We want people to be able to come
here and feel like they belong here." The women "accepted
the apology, charity tickets, undisclosed sum of money and
promise of sensitivity training with grace." Goldey, on
being asked to leave the game: "If we started disrobing,
started feeling each other up, that would be inappropriate.
We knew there were kids around. We know there are things
you don't do in public. My mother raised me to know right
from wrong. ... For Bob Graziano to come out there
personally meant a lot to me. I will be going to more
Dodger games this year" (L.A. TIMES, 8/24). Graziano,
speaking at yesterday's press conference announcing the
ticket donation, noted that the Dodgers "had previously been
marketing group ticket sales to gay and lesbian
organizations." Graziano said the incident "was not an
example of discrimination. There was commotion in the
section, and security attempted to defuse it." Local gay
and lesbian leaders "congratulated" the Dodgers for reacting
"so promptly and fully" (L.A. TIMES, 8/24).
