Viral Pool Incident at Kimpton Sawyer Hotel Raises Questions

A video that’s now gone viral with over 100,000 views shows a tense confrontation at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel pool in Sacramento, where two women say they were targeted and harassed for sharing a kiss.

Domonique Veasley, one of the women involved, says she was shocked by the incident.

“This is not okay anymore it’s 2021,” Veasley said in the video, emphasizing the need for broader acceptance and understanding of rights.

According to Veasley, what began as a peaceful afternoon quickly escalated. She and her partner were in the pool when other guests took issue with them kissing. Veasley said a group of individuals asked them to stop because children were present.

“At first I considered the kids,” she said. “But then I realized, they were asking me to stop being myself.”

Veasley explained that two women from the group approached her and her partner on separate occasions. She noted that despite other couples, including straight ones, showing public affection, they were the only ones singled out. She suspects the group later contacted hotel security.

Georgy Avakov, a bystander who witnessed the entire scene, said it was clear that the couple was being unfairly targeted.

“These women specifically focused on Domonique and her partner—even though other couples, mostly straight were showing just as much affection,” Avakov said.

Once hotel security was involved, Veasley said she was asked to leave the pool for a conversation.

“She could’ve used that moment to talk to her children about love and acceptance,” Veasley added. “Instead, she chose to find fault at something as simple as a kiss between two women.”

Footage from the confrontation shows shouting and profanity from the group that approached Veasley, while others at the pool began chanting “shame” in support of the couple. Eventually, hotel security escorted the group out of the area.

Avakov, who helped film the scene, said security and fellow guests urged the group to apologize, but they refused. Veasley said she confronted the women about what she felt was wrong.

“I asked one of them directly—‘Are you okay with this level of undertones I’m sensing?’” she said. “Because no one else was being treated like this.”

Though Avakov didn’t know Veasley personally, he said he felt compelled to support her.

“You can’t watch someone face unprovoked harassment like that and not say something,” he said. “She was simply trying to enjoy an afternoon with her partner.”

Veasley said she felt both drained and grateful—overwhelmed by the encounter, but also touched by the public support she received from others at the pool.

“It gave me hope,” she said. “Change won’t come overnight, but this showed me that there are allies out there. It’s a long road, but this was a spark.”

The hotel released a statement acknowledging the incident but refrained from sharing specific details.

“We do not condone any form of discrimination or verbal assault,” said Nikki Carlson, General Manager of the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel. “There was a disagreement between guests over the holiday weekend, and it has since been resolved. We take all concerns of guest discrimination seriously and ensure our staff is trained in conflict resolution and guest safety through our comprehensive anti-harassment policies and diversity training programs.”

Alexis Sanchez, Director of Advocacy and Training at Sacramento’s LGBT Community Center, noted that such incidents, unfortunately, remain common.

“While there has been progress, hate-based encounters are still rising, especially for individuals with multiple marginalized identities,” Sanchez explained. “We’ve tracked an increase in reported bias cases since 2015.”

What began as a relaxing day by the pool turned into a moment of confrontation, but Veasley hopes the incident will raise awareness about ongoing discrimination and the importance of inclusive policies.

“Things will only change if we continue to push for them,” she said. “There is no movement without movement.”