March 17, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Los Angeles lesbian couple sue after arrest in Hawaii for kissing

courtney
Courtney Wilson and Taylor Guerrero

Courtney Wilson and Taylor Guerrero just wanted a little rest and relaxation so they decided to vacation in what they thought was paradise.  They flew from Los Angeles to Hawaii in March and landed in hell on aisle two at Foodland Pupukea instead.

While shopping Wilson and Guerrero were holding hands, hugging each other and kissing in the store, prompting a homophobic cop to arrest and jail them.

In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday October 27, the couple claim Honolulu police officer Bobby Harrison, a 26 year veteran of the department, violated their civil rights, abused and harassed them before wrongfully arresting them.

“We were holding hands and I was kissing her cheek,” says Guerrero, when Harrison spotted them and began screaming at them from from the opposite side of the store.

“You girls can’t do that in here,” Harrison shouted. But the pair proceeded with their shopping and tried to ignore the off duty uniformed officer. “Take it somewhere else,” he said.

Approaching them while they were in the checkout line Harrison and a store employee threatened them with trespassing. Wilson, alarmed at the aggression, called the police.

While Wilson was talking to 911, Harrison hit and grabbed her arm. At that point Guerrero attempted to intervene and the officer stepped up his aggression, pushing the pair with his belly. “I got punched in the face by him,” Wilson said. “I split my nose open. We were on the ground.”

Employees of Foodland were ordered to pin the pair to the floor until someone found plastic handcuffs or zip ties to use as handcuffs.  Wilson says they were taken to the basement of the store and there they were verbally harassed. The couple were asked “if it was worth it, if we were happy where we are.”

“We were just shocked that it all happened.”  They were arrested for assault (of an officer), jailed and forced to post bail. The only money they had available to them was what they had brought for the expenses of the trip and all of it was used to secure a 1,300 dollar bail bond.

Broke and not allowed, as a condition of their bail, to leave Oahu they wound up sleeping in a park.

Prosecutors dropped the case after several months but now the couple wants justice.

“I just think that what he did was absolutely wrong without a doubt,” Wilson said. “I just really want an example to be made.”

Harrison is currently the subject of an internal investigation due to the case.

See full lawsuit here.

in NEWS
Related Posts

Bringing Literature to Life: Literati Events Announces Quarterly Event Series

March 16, 2025

March 16, 2025

Alice in Wonderland Themed Vendor Market and Show Coming Soon By Susan Payne On a mission to bring literature to...

Heart Rending Collision in Brentwood: Pedestrian Struck at San Vicente and Darlington

March 16, 2025

March 16, 2025

Horrific Crash on San Vicente Raises Renewed Concerns Over Pedestrian Safety A tragic traffic collision on Monday, March 10 left...

LGBTQ Asylum Seeker Vanishes After ICE Detention Under Trump’s Wartime Deportation Order

March 16, 2025

March 16, 2025

Legal Experts Warn Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Allows Deportations Without Trial A Venezuelan asylum seeker has reportedly been...

Will Arnett Cashes Out: Beverly Hills Mansion Sells for $20.2M

March 16, 2025

March 16, 2025

Buyer Consulted a Spiritual Medium Before Purchasing the Home Actor Will Arnett sold his Beverly Hills estate for $20.2 million...

GLAAD Announces Star-Studded 36th Annual Media Awards: Full Lineup & Streaming Details

March 16, 2025

March 16, 2025

Star-Studded Event Will Feature The Last of Us Part II Cast Reunion & Powerful LGBTQ Tributes GLAAD, the world’s largest...

Major Road Closure: Wilshire Boulevard Shut Down for D Line Subway Extension

March 16, 2025

March 16, 2025

Metro’s D Line Extension: Full Closure of Wilshire Boulevard for Construction Beginning March 17, Wilshire Boulevard will be fully closed...

America’s Wealthiest 0.1% Could Buy Every Home in the 25 Largest U.S. Cities

March 16, 2025

March 16, 2025

New Redfin Report Reveals Disparity as People Struggle to Buy and Rent Homes The wealthiest 1% of Americans now have...

California Insurance Chief Conditionally Approves Rate Hikes, But State Farm Must Face Public Hearing

March 16, 2025

March 16, 2025

Commissioner Lara Presses State Farm to Justify Rate Hikes and Halt Policy Cancellations In response to the ongoing insurance crisis...

Texas Bill Seeks to Criminalize Being Transgender, Causing Concern and Anger

March 14, 2025

March 14, 2025

Law Would Make Being Transgender a Felony, Punishable by Prison State Rep. Tom Oliverson, a Texas Republican legislator who represents...

Cyndi Lauper Announces Final Leg of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour

March 14, 2025

March 14, 2025

Singer’s Last North American Run Includes Hollywood Bowl Performances Musician and gay icon Cyndi Lauper has unveiled the final North...

Mysterious Shooter Killing Crows in Westchester, Residents Fear for Their Safety, Want Action

March 14, 2025

March 14, 2025

Residents Fear Escalating Violence as Bullets Narrowly Miss People, Pets, and Homes Residents of Westchester are growing increasingly alarmed after...

Your Guide to Free Museum Weekend: 30 SoCal Museums Waiving Admission Fees

March 14, 2025

March 14, 2025

Explore Art, History, and Culture for Free as Museums Across LA Open Their Doors Art and history lovers in Southern...

Mayor Bass’ Text Messages Deleted Amid Pacific Palisades Fire Response Scrutiny

March 13, 2025

March 13, 2025

Public Records Requests Reveal That Mayor Bass’ Phone Auto-Deletes Messages On January 7, as powerful winds and dry conditions fueled...

The Ebell of Los Angeles Celebrates Women’s History Month with Inspiring Events, Art, and Performances

March 13, 2025

March 13, 2025

The Month-Long Celebration Honors the Contributions and Resilience of Women In honor of Women’s History Month, The Ebell of Los...

(Video) Baltaire’s Amazing 10th Anniversary Party

March 13, 2025

March 13, 2025

The Greek Salad prepared table side. Bluefin Toro with Crispy Rice, wasabi, spicy mayo, pickled ginger. Chateaubriand, 16 oz, with...