Tennessee Man Tests U.S. Supreme Court’s New LGBT+ Discrimination Ruling
Jacob Brashier, a man who lives in Blount County has filed a lawsuit, which is believed to be the first after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that bars employers from firing workers based on their sexual orientation.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Brashier is suing Manorhouse Management Inc., in U.S. District Court in Knoxville, claiming the firm fired him in violation of that ruling.
The lawsuit, filed on Brashier’s behalf by attorney James Friauf, alleges Brashier was “summarily subjected to disparagement, ridicule, and humiliation in the course of his employment with defendant.
“He files this action to rectify the wrongs he has experienced as a result of his sexual orientation, as well as to advance the rights of his fellow LGBTQ community members, who have been historically and unlawfully marginalized and oppressed for generations,” the lawsuit stated.
Brashier was hired by Manorhouse as a certified nursing assistant in April, according to the lawsuit.
“Brashier began experiencing discriminatory treatment by his supervisors beginning on or about June 6, 2020, including being called a ‘faggot’ on several occasions and having a soiled rag thrown in his face,” the lawsuit alleged.
Friauf alleges in the lawsuit that Brashier filed a complaint with management in which he claimed he was being discriminated based on his sexual orientation and also had been denied overtime pay.
“After (Brashier) submitted his report, (Manorhouse Management) retorted (Brashier) was lying about being called a ‘faggot’ and to ‘forget about it,’” the lawsuit stated.
“(Manorhouse) undertook zero efforts to ameliorate the discrimination of which (Brashier) complained, nor did it investigate and correct the wage and hour violations of which (Brashier) had been subjected and subsequently complained,” the lawsuit alleged.
As ‘knox news’ reports, the lawsuit accuses Manorhouse of retaliating against Brashier by cutting his pay from $11.50 hourly to $10.50 hourly and, ultimately, cooking up a reason to fire him June 19 – four days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Brashier is seeking $2 million in damages.
Read related myGwork articles here:
Historic U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Protects LGBT+ Workers From Job Discrimination
Trump Administration Rolls Back Basic Obama-Era Trans Health Care Protections
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Let Adoption Agencies Reject LGBT+ Families
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