Cal basketball coach says Southwest asked for proof biracial son was hers

Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb brings her 6-month-old son Jordan to the Cal women's basketball practice at UC Berkeley on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb brings her 6-month-old son Jordan to the Cal women's basketball practice at UC Berkeley on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 34 Caption Close Cal basketball coach says Southwest asked for proof biracial son was hers 1 / 34 Back to Gallery

Cal women's basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb says she was asked to "prove" her son belonged to her before boarding a flight to Oakland on Sunday.

Gottlieb, who is white, said a Southwest Airlines employee in Denver asked for a birth certificate and later a Facebook post to prove her 1-year-old son was hers.

According to Gottlieb, the Southwest employee reportedly said her questions stemmed from the fact that Gottlieb's son, Jordan Peter Martin, has a different last name.

"We had a passport that verified our son's age and identity, and both parents were present," Gottlieb said in a statement. "But still being pushed further to 'prove' that he was my son felt disrespectful and motivated by more than just concern for his well-being."

In a tweet Sunday night, Gottlieb implied the employee's probing was related to her son having a "different skin color." Her fiancé, Patrick Martin, is black.

The Chronicle profiled Gottlieb's motherhood-basketball balancing act in January. Read the story here.

In a follow-up tweet, Gottlieb wrote that the mother next to her in line said "she's never been asked for proof" despite her son's different last name.

"Not shockingly, not [mixed-race] fam," she wrote.

In a statement sent to SFGATE, Southwest said they are "looking into this specific interaction" and have reached out to Gottlieb to "address her concerns."

"Our employees are well regarded for their hospitality and we always strive for the best experience for anyone who entrusts us with their travel," the statement concluded.

Gottlieb said Southwest apologized and promised to make the incident a "coaching" moment for the organization.

"While it was upsetting and emotional, I realize that this was just one day of my life where I was uncomfortable and our family was made to feel 'less than,'" Gottlieb said, "whereas others face similar situations on a daily basis."

Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf.