Transgender activist Shawn "Sunshine" Strickland has sued the Golden State Warriors, in which Strickland asserts security improperly removed the activist from a show featuring comedian Dave Chappelle at the Chase Center arena.
Shawn Strickland filed suit against the Warriors; GSW Arena LLC; Brian Herbert; and others in San Francisco Superior Court on April 12. The complaint is accusing the Golden State Warriors and the GSW Arena of violating Strickland's civil rights by ejecting the activist from an event under the alleged pretense that Strickland was seeking to disrupt the event.
Strickland, who the complaint said is best known and easily recognizable as "Supergirl" for donning a flamboyant superhero costume to attend events in the Bay Area, has been down this road before. Strickland sued the city of San Francisco in 2019, receiving a $13,000 payout from the city that November after settling a First Amendment lawsuit. Strickland said the lawsuit also resulted in changes to the written policies that cover City Hall protests.
Most recently, the activist asserts, security at a Chappelle show at the Chase Center targeted Strickland, booting the activist from the event, allegedly without just cause, but what the complaint asserts was a misunderstanding and an assumption that Strickland had a nefarious agenda to protest the comedian who has famously criticized transgender issues and pro-trans publicity and policies.
While attending the event in November 2021, Strickland volunteered to go forward and be "roasted" by the comedian's warm up act, comedian Jeff Ross. Prior to the event, Strickland, along with other attendees went through security clearance which included locking their mobile devices in a Yondr pouch, a device which prevents users from accessing their phones at events where a phone-free space is desired.
Strickland, wearing the Supergirl costume, was allegedly encouraged by event staff to leave the assigned seating area to go forward with others to be "roasted" by Ross. When the activist was on deck, Strickland asserts attempted to forcibly turn Strickland around. This action apparently exposed an empty phone case, which security staff allegedly identified as an unsecured phone in violation of event rules.
According to the complaint, Strickland was then escorted to an outer area where the complaint says security allegedly stated they would discuss the issue. Strickland allegedly repeatedly tried to show that the Yondr device was still intact. When police intervened, Strickland unlocked the Yondr device and began recording the verbal exchange.
At that point, according to the complaint, Strickland was allegedly prevented from returning to the event, ostensibly because security was under the pretext that Strickland intended to disrupt the event and cause a protest demonstration. The suit contends this was a violation of Strickland's civil rights as there was no nefarious intent planned by the activist.
Strickland is demanding a jury trial, statutory and punitive damages, plus court costs and legal fees.
Strickland is represented by attorney Donald Cloyce Wagda, of Danville.