US: Worker allegedly sacked from Ashley Furniture HomeStore for being a married lesbian
A married lesbian in New Jersey is suing a local franchise of one of America’s largest furniture companies for unlawful termination after a Christian supervisor allegedly said: “lesbos and gays would be judged.”
Courthouse News Service reports, Isabel Perez is suing the Ashley Furniture HomeStore in Secaucus, New Jersey, along with the shop’s CEO Eugene Chrinian and director of people services and development Kathy Martin.
Perez claims that she was asked by Chrinian and Martin about her marital status and religious views in separate employment interviews. After Perez was offered the job, Martin summoned her to her office for a meeting.
It’s claimed Martin took her hand and “began to pray to God to ask for guidance” in addressing a specific work situation.
The complaint states: “During this same meeting, Martin disclosed the fact that she was frequently possessed by Jesus and would sometimes speak in tongues without warning. At this meeting, Martin said that she ‘spoke to God’ and that she was ‘sure [they] would make a balanced team.”
Martin allegedly made several anti-gay remarks and said that “lesbos and gays would be judged.” She reportedly then criticised people who “call themselves true Christians, but…don’t know what that means.”
Perez says while her co-workers knew she was a married lesbian, she believes she was fired last year after Martin saw a Human Rights Campaign sticker on her car.
The complaint also reports that Perez was made aware that Martin directed “derogatory and discriminatory” comments, including “nigga,” “lesbo” and “fag,” toward a number of colleagues.
Ashley Furniture has publicly supported anti-gay lobby groups and donated heavily to conservative political candidates.
