A Norristown gay man filed suit in federal court this week, claiming he was fired from a health-care position at Meadowview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Whitemarsh because of his sexual orientation.
On May 15, “Frank Doe” filed a 67-page antibias lawsuit, alleging wrongful termination, a hostile work environment and retaliation at Meadowview due to his sexual orientation and gender nonconformity.
Attorneys for Meadowview declined to comment for this story.
Doe was employed as an activities director at Meadowview from May 2015 to September 2016. He was fired for allegedly sleeping during a staff meeting, which Doe denies doing. Doe‘s firing sidetracked his career and educational goals, according to his suit.
Doe contends a colleague warned him to “turn down the gay,” before a new administrator began working at Meadowview in February 2016. Doe allegedly struggled to adjust to the new administrator, without success, according to Doe‘s suit.
The administrator continuously referred to Doe as “Frances” during an eight-month period, despite Doe’s protestations. “The effeminate intonation [of the administrator] was high-pitched and screeching,” according to Doe’s suit.
When Doe told the administrator that he appeared to be homophobic, the administrator replied by once again calling Doe “Frances” in a “dramatic” tone of voice, according to the suit.
Shortly before Doe was fired, the administrator allegedly taunted Doe by repeatedly misgendering him during a holiday staff barbecue, according to the suit.
Doe didn’t receive any warnings or a reprimand prior to his firing, which is a deviation from standard office protocol at Meadowview, according to the suit.
Doe is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages, including lost wages and reimbursement for medical expenses.
He’s also seeking corrective measures at Meadowview, including creating and disseminating an LGBT-inclusive antibias policy; conducting LGBT-inclusive anti-harassment training; and removing from Doe’s personnel file all statements that he allegedly slept on the job.
Justin F. Robinette, an attorney for Doe, said his client eagerly awaits his day in court.
“Mr. Doe is looking forward to a jury of fair-minded peers reviewing all the facts of this case in an impartial manner,” Robinette told PGN. “If that happens, he’s optimistic that justice will prevail.”
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