News :: GLBT
Boston man fired for anti-gay remark by Hannah Clay Wareham
Staff ReporterTuesday Nov 10, 2009 Peter Vidala, a former Brookstone employee, claimed that God wanted him to tell a fellow manager that he disapproved of her lesbian marriage.
"God wanted me to express how I felt about the matter," 24-year-old Vidala told FoxNews.com on Nov. 8. According to Vidala, the manager, who was visiting the Logan Airport store from another chain location, frequently mentioned her upcoming nuptials. After visiting the airport chapel, Vidala told her, "Regarding your homosexuality, I think that’s bad stuff."
The woman allegedly responded, "Human resources, buddy -- keep your opinions to yourself." Two days later, Vidala received a termination letter, citing the company’s zero-tolerance policy regarding harassment and discrimination.
"While you are entitled to your own beliefs, imposing them upon others in the workplace is not acceptable and in this case, by telling a colleague that she is deviant and immoral, constitutes discrimination and harassment," the letter read.
Vidala told FoxNews.com that while he does believe homosexuality to be a deviant behavior, he did not use that word while speaking with the manager. He said that her discussion of her upcoming wedding offended him. "In general, I believe people don’t want to hear about controversial issues like that in the workplace," he said. "They shouldn’t have to."
Vidala is considering filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
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