Gay HR Director Sues Boss for Pro-Gay Bias

Jamie Ardigo says boss boasted about only hiring gays, beautiful women
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted May 11, 2012 8:48 AM CDT
Gay HR Director Sues Boss for Pro-Gay Bias
Christopher Burch, seen here with restaurateur Jennifer Worthington, is being sued for discrimination.   (Getty Images)

In one of the stranger discrimination lawsuits in recent memory, a gay man is suing his straight former boss over an alleged pro-gay hiring bias. Jamie Ardigo says he was fired as HR director of venture capitalist Christopher Burch's company after trying to change its hiring practices. Ardigo tells ABC that he repeatedly heard Burch boast "that he only likes to hire gay men and beautiful women" and describe gay men as more productive.

Ardigo says that as a gay man he was offended by the remarks and as an HR professional, he was aware that the discriminatory hiring practices Burch described violated New York and federal laws. He is suing for sex discrimination and wrongful termination. Burch's lawyer says there was no discrimination involved and Ardigo was fired for "a performance-related issue." (More discrimination stories.)

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