Poland: Gay man wins homophobia case against Danish supermarket Netto
A court in western Poland has ordered the Danish-owned supermarket chain Netto to pay a gay former employee damages after he was called a “faggot” by a manager.
Polish Radio reports Ireneusz Muzalski, 44, a cashier at a Netto store in Slubice, near the Polish border opposite Germany, suffered homophobic abuse and on one occasion was branded a “male bitch” and a “whore” in front of staff and customers.
The unnamed manager in question denied that Mr Muzalski had been sacked as a result of his sexual orientation, however, the claimant disagreed and said:
“He asked how it was possible that the firm employed such a faggot… and in the end he fired me,” Mr Muzalski revealed to Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper.
Monika Wieczorek, a lawyer who represents the Polish Society of Anti-Discrimination Law (PTPA), said that the ruling is significant because of the amount awarded in damages.
Netto must now pay Mr Muzalsk 18,000 zloty (around £3,579) as well as court costs.
