Man Fired for Saying Gay Marriage is Wrong
Massachusetts Man Says He Was Fired for Telling Colleague Her Gay Marriage Is Wrong
excerpt: Peter Vidala, who had been employed by Brookstone, a department store who’s by-line is “A World of Innovation”, for just a matter of weeks, received a termination letter citing the company’s zero-tolerance policy regarding “harassment” and “inappropriate and unprofessional” comments. The letter continues, “In the state of Massachusetts, same-sex marriage is legal and there will be people with whom you work with who have fiancées or spouses who are the same gender,” the Aug. 12 letter read. “… While you are entitled to your own beliefs, imposing them upon others in the workplace is not acceptable
Let’s pull on the boots and wade through this B.S…why were her repeated comments about her impending marriage not considered “unprofessional”? As the letter states your entitled to your beliefs but imposing them on others is not acceptable…apparently that’s a one way street.
Read the story below as reported to Fox News.
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A manager at a Massachusetts retail store claims he was unjustly fired after he told a colleague he thought her impending marriage to another woman was wrong.
Peter Vidala, 24, told Fox News he was terminated in August from his position as second deputy manager at a Brookstone store at Boston’s Logan Airport after a conversation he had with a manager from another Brookstone store who was visiting the location.
Paul Vidala, fired for saying gay marriage is wrong
Vidala claims the woman, whom he declined to identify, mentioned four times that she had married her partner. He said he then left the store briefly to visit the airport’s chapel before returning.
“I found it offensive that she repeatedly brought it up,” Vidala said. “By the fourth time she mentioned it, I felt God wanted me to express how I felt about the matter, so I did. But my tone was downright apologetic. I said, ‘Regarding your homosexuality, I think that’s bad stuff.’”
The woman, according to Vidala, then said, “Human Resources, buddy — keep your opinions to yourself,” before exiting the store.
Two days later, Vidala, who had been employed for just a matter of weeks, received a termination letter citing the company’s zero-tolerance policy regarding “harassment” and “inappropriate and unprofessional” comments.
“In the state of Massachusetts, same-sex marriage is legal and there will be people with whom you work with who have fiancées or spouses who are the same gender,” the Aug. 12 letter read. “… 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.”
Vidala disputes using the words “deviant” and “immoral” during conversations with human resources employees on the matter.
“I did say I regard that lifestyle as deviant, as in deviating from the norm, but I never, ever said to that to the [manager],” he said. “In general, I believe people don’t want to hear about controversial issues like that in the workplace. They shouldn’t have to.”
Vidala, who has not hired a lawyer, said he is considering filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
In a statement issued to FoxNews.com, Brookstone President/CEO Ron Boire said a “thorough and fair investigation” had been completed in the matter.
“We do not comment on any specific personnel issues,” the statement read. “However I will say that Brookstone is an equal opportunity employer, meaning that we maintain a healthy, safe and productive work environment free from discrimination or harassment based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, or other factors that are unrelated to the Company’s legitimate business interests.
“We are proud of our diverse workforce of varying cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.”
Asked why he felt the need to comment on the woman’s personal life, Vidala, who has since left the Boston area, said he felt compelled to do so.
“I see, like all real Christians, homosexuals as people who, like me, are sinners and need to be told the truth in a loving way,” he said. “In this situation, I took issue with the behavior. I think it’s lunacy to call that type of behavior marriage in any kind of form. I had to express that I’m intolerant of that behavior. It’s a love-the-sinner, hate-the-sin kind of deal.”
Vidala said he felt “intentionally goaded” by the manager to comment on her relationship.
“She knew how I felt about homosexuality,” he said. “When you talk to someone about something like that, you want their support. She was kind of looking into my eyes for that social cue for me to say, ‘I’m happy for you.’ But I really couldn’t feel happy for her.”
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I know a Norwegian man working in the US who was reprimanded for sexual harassment because he told a female co-worker her hair looked nice. She didn't take offense, but another employee did, and reported the poor Norwegian who didn't had a clue to what he had done. In Norway it's almost mandatory to compliment your co-workers if they have a hair cut (at least I try to convince my colleagues). The harassment frenzy looks more like thought control. Curse you if you hold any views but the ones condoned by the PC lobby.
Nobody likes crazy bible bashers, but should he be fired for being a bigot? I think people need to relax. What kind of working environment do you have when the slightest remark is considered harassment? I recently told my boss he is a cheap b****rd, and he actually agreed. This trend with people feeling offended for almost everything is silly. What about the first amendment? Real harassment is not about what you say but how and when you say it. We will never solve the real issues if we ban all kinds of views. Respect the differences I say.
Yes, it truly seems like an intentional effort to get him fired because she apparently knew that he would stick to his convictions and she disagreed with him. She harassed him! For future reference, I would report such people to my employer / 'Human Resources' ASAP if I thought that the comments made to me were very suspicious and out of place in light of company policies. She succeeded in getting him terminated, for the time being, but I hope that the company will feel the backlash. Its time to stand up against such things.
Why doesn't the same corporate policy that was used in his termination apply to her. She was the harassing Peter. After her repeated and unsolicited comments, he responded in a way that was not condemning but simply sharing his moral conviction on the matter. I have to believe his response was not a complete surprise to her which makes me wonder if her motives in sharing her comments were not intended to solicit a response from him so that she could report him. I believe she should be fired first and then consider if what he said, in response to her harassment, should be punished or fired.
I have emailed Brookstone at the above link with my comments about this issue. Thank-you. I will not buy from a store which employs a double-standard against its employees. It needs to know that this is not okay to do to people. They can't handle the truth.
It's a double standard. I'm tired of it. She kept repeatedly stating that she had married her partner, yet was intolerant of his views on the issue. The one who is vicious and unloving is her. Intolerance of others' views in light of Biblical truth is ultimately intolerance towards God's standards. She is the one at fault who was seeking reassurances from him that what she did wasn't wrong, but he told her the truth in love. As Christians, we are to uphold God's truth regardless of what society's message is. God loves us enough that he gives us the chance to change our ways since we all sin. Peter did what is right in God's eyes and I commend him for it, and I pray for a fair resolution in his case since it was an unfair and cowardly decision on the company's part to terminate him on a one-sided basis. They lied to cover for their manager. The company should be held accountable for their double standard. May Peter get himself good lawyers and not allow his rights to be violated in that way. Stand strong against the spiritual attacks, with the Lord's help! I'm with ya.
I love how he was told, "keep your opinions to yourself," when she couldn't keep hers to herself. Isn't a conversation that is consistently sensual considered "harassment" as well as inappropriate." Overly political correctness is quickly leading moral incorrectness.
Exactly Erico…Brookstone is quick to fire the man because the gay manager was offended, but couldn’t care less about Mr. Vidala’s having been offended, or as you say even “harassed” by her repeated, sexually oriented comments.