An Orlando McDonalds Manager To A Trans Applicant: "We Do Not Hire Faggots"

[ccharles000]

I'm always a little amazed by blatant discrimination against anyone, especially if it's easily documented. The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) is filing a complaint (lawsuit) today (December 7th, 2009) with the Florida Commission on Human Relations. It's because an Orlando McDonald's restaurant for refusing to hire 17-year-old Zikerria Bellamy because she is transgender. And, in the process of discriminating against her, she received a voicemail message from one of the McDonald's managers:

"You went to (indistinguishable) McDonalds today. It doesn't matter how many times you go down there: You will not get hired. We do not hire faggots.

"You lied to me. You told me you was a woman. And then you lied to me. You told me you were seventeen. I can't believe you. You're a lying brother (indistinguishable). How could you ever lie to me? We will never..."

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/14381/an-orlando-mcdonalds-manager-to-a-trans-applicant-we-do-not-hire-fgots

[SidDithers]

1. Soon to be "Former Orlando McDonald's Manager"?...nt

Sid

[DURHAM D]

2. One can only hope... nt

[YOY]

3. That kind of slur doesn't stand.

He'll be former. Especially if there were witnesses.

That's a lawsuit in a readily dispensable container.

McDonalds has deep pockets but won't defend that...at least I'm 80% sure they wouldn't.

[zbdent]

8. Don't worry ... the Mgr will find new employment

guest hosting on all the "liberal" news shows ...

:eyes:

[MindPilot]

4. The manager could have just said "no".

"Sorry, that position has been filled".

How stupid do you have to be to first discriminate and then advertise it? Never mind I don't want to know.

[reggie the dog]

9. I think it is still legal to discriminate agaist gay people

so why hide what is legal? I disagree with the manager, but I am just saying, he did not do anything illegal, unless gay people have been included in the anti discrimination laws but I dont think that is the case.

[MindPilot]

19. Depends on the state -- some have tougher laws than the fed

AFAIK here in California it is illegal. But even if not technically illegal, the manager still opened himself and his employer to a lawsuit

[reggie the dog]

29. you would think it would be considered discrimination

and illegal everywhere, but it is just not the case. I hope there is a lawsuit.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

38. It's Tricky

http://www.edgeorlando.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=99464

Even localities with anti-discrimination laws sometimes exclude transgendered persons.

Orlando is going to include transgendered persons.

Orlando's not San Francisco or Los Angeles but it's a progressive city.

[951-Riverside]

5. *scoffs* You're supposed to accept the application then throw it in the trash.

Every racist, sexist and homophobic employer/apt manager knows this. :sarcasm:

[Ishoutandscream2]

6. Any bets this manager is sympathetic to the Teabaggers?

I know, a very easy question.

[Lost-in-FL]

7. There's plenty of voting democrats that show this type of behavior. nt

[Ishoutandscream2]

13. Well, if there are, they need to get the hell out

I still want to believe that it a very small minority.

[Lost-in-FL]

14. If it was a small minority

Anti-GLBT bills would not pass in predominantly liberal states.

[Starry Messenger]

20. We have Dems on this board who call trans gendered people

by the wrong pronoun because "That ain't right." Do a search on the Thomas Beattie threads sometime. :(

[Ishoutandscream2]

25. Shit, if that's the case, then those posters don't belong here

That's just sad that it happens here at DU.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

10. Sounds like there's something else going on here though

Is it just me? That message left sounds kinda personal.

[NightWatcher]

12. like he picked up a transgender hooker (and didnt know it)???

Time to boycott McD's, whooops already doing that

[AlienGirl]

27. Many bigots feel *personally* offended by the existence of transfolk

Especially if the bigot was not able to "tell". Transgendered people, by existing at all and interacting normally with ordinary society (instead of being a televised stereotype), violate the bigots' worldview so deeply that the bigot's response to "finding out" is frequently rage and a desire to annihilate the TG person.

Tucker

[Shandris]

32. How right you are

My cousin's sister is TG and my cousin simply refuses to call her by her name, instead calling her by her previous name. Loudly. Often. Repetitively.

She came up for one of my aunt's funerals last year, spent all of 2 days here before returning home. Her own son, who is near my age, doesn't have a problem with his mother but my cousin does. And my grandparents, every other aunt and uncle, the entire Repuke side of my family. The only people who said a kind word to her were my father and his wife, and myself. It had to be THE most embarrassing thing I've ever had to bear witness to. I wanted to say something to everyone so much, so loudly but my father asked me not to. It wasn't easy, and I haven't had much to do with 'those other people' since then. I knew, as Republican Conservative Christians, that they weren't going to be very friendly to her but what I saw, I simply wasn't prepared for. I can't see any way in which one could prepare for that kind of...mean-spirited vitriol.

[BR_Parkway]

42. That was my first thought as well when reading the transcript. A guy who

isn't going to hire someone because of their orientation or gender presentation wouldn't call them

[Richard Steele]

11. K&R

[AspenRose]

15. Good Lord.

I have no words.

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. Somebody do me a favor.

If you come across any positive, progressive article related to Central Florida, please post it and PM me. It's one thing to know something is wrong with this area, it's another thing to get confirmation after confirmation after confirmation.

[lpbk2713]

17. Alan Grayson

You've heard of him haven't you?

[The Backlash Cometh]

28. If I were a betting person, I'd say that we have a date to meet in the future.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

39. Ha

The city of Orlando has anti-discrimnation laws and is in the process of including transgendered persons to its protection.

There are five city council members and I believe two are African American and the other is gay.

http://www.edgeorlando.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=99464

[Orsino]

18. You deserve some hate today. n/t

[KamaAina]

22. Billions And Billions Slurred

:grr:

[LeftHander]

24. "I'm hatin' you."....nt

[benld74]

21. Applicant should have yelled out,"Whadda mean your food has maggots"?

[loyalkydem]

23. and I would have responded

What the hell business is it of yours? I hope that applicant sues.

[slackmaster]

30. The applicant probably doesn't have a leg to stand on

Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation is not illegal in Florida yet.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

40. It Is In Orlando

However transgendered persons are not covered yet:

http://www.edgeorlando.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=99464


But even if they were covered does that mean the most McDonalds can get is a fine since no federal civil rights were violated.

[marshall]

26. That's almost as stupid as Tiger Woods's voicemail

When will people learn not to leave stuff on voicemail that you don't want other people hearing.

[Initech]

31. Super-sized hate

:banghead:

[Soylent Brice]

33. this says a lot about the person that promoted him. what fuckwad would look at this guy and think:

management material.

:crazy:

i hope she sues the living fuck out of them.

[KamaAina]

34. Well, I can hardly blame him

how much use would a bundle of sticks be in a fast-food joint?

:sarcasm:

[Odin2005]

35. Why is it ALWAYS Forida?

[Bertha Venation]

36. I hope it's a corporate store, not a franchise. n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

41. Living In Greater Orlando I Know Exactly Where It Is

It's right , smack, dab in the middle of the I-Drive area, which is a tourist mecca.

[Union Yes]

37. Hope she sues Mcdonalds corporate and wins. knr nt

[Ukonkivi]

43. Money is Power

And because of that, the Capitalists can control your ability to express values, or even be yourself.
Down to the very point of gender roles. It's still hard for me to get a job with this long hair.
As I am a guy and that violates gender norms still.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

44. UPDATE: The manager has been fired.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/21884653/detail.html

[edbermac]

45. Fired? Well to quote McDonald's: