Not only are gay choir directors feeling the wrath of bigotry, but another long-standing domain of the workforce seems to be under attack: the world of the gay cake decorator.
Alternative weekly Miami New Times (why are these ridiculous stories so often from Florida?) has reported receiving numerous complaints in the past few weeks from employees of Publix, the state’s largest supermarket chain, with claims of anti-LGBT bias. The investigation unearthed a complaint from 2012, in which the company was fined almost $100,000 for firing a bakery employee, Richard Glisson, for being openly gay.
Seriously? They fired a gay cake decorator?
From Miami New Times:
“We conclude that Mr. Glisson has proven his case of discrimination,” the [Broward County Human Rights Board] decided….”the real motivating factor behind Mr. Glisson’s termination was impermissible discrimination based upon his sexual orientation.”
The board then awarded Glisson $98,408. Publix is appealing the decision, but Glisson’s attorney, Scott Behren, expects a final decision in the next few months.
The New Times investigation suggests that Publix is rampant with antigay prejudice, but that is perhaps stretching things a bit. Yes, Publix has a score of zero on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, but that is mainly because they haven’t completed the survey. It would be nice if Publix played along, but HRC doesn’t automatically get to say Publix is a bully simply because the supermarket chain won’t come over and play in their Equality sandbox.
Nevertheless, Publix isn’t looking good. Even if all those complaints to the New Times are merely vengeful workers looking to cause some trouble, there really is no excuse for a Fortune 500 company the size of Publix to fail to offer domestic partner benefits — other than simply not wanting to do so. Rude. They also should join the current millennium and include sexual orientation on their anti-discrimination statement, which is noticeably absent.
We are particularly perplexed by Publix apparently trying to change the rules for jobs that are inherently in the gay domain. Who is next? Professional figure skaters? Wedding coordinators? Hairdressers? Will airline passengers begin to feign surprise when flamboyant flight attendants sashay down the aisle offering sacks of nuts? We should all take a moment to check in with our female gym teachers from years gone by, and make sure everything is okay with them. None of us are safe.
And really, why is it that the new battle ground for LGBT equality is being fought, literally, over cakes? First antigay bigot bakers won’t bake cakes for same-sex weddings, and now gays aren’t even allowed to pick up a piping bag with a rosette tip. Why is the world of cake decorating so important to the Christian Right?
We shudder to think what would happen if gay men were pushed out of the cake decorating trade. We’d all end up with cakes that look like this.
Ann Mason
I thought of something which may not occur to some people who are 20 years old.
During the early 1980s, when AIDS first began making people ill in the United States, we heard about an increase in employment discrimination against gay men by food establishments. It wasn’t just homophobia. There was a mistaken belief that someone who prepared or served food could infect consumers. People who were most panicked assumed all gay men had been exposed to the virus. The virus even had a different name then. It was called HTLV-3.
Now, most of our society is more enlightened where the public health aspect is concerned. However, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility that some employers still view a gay man in the workplace as a health risk — or, at the very least, scary for customers who are ignorant.
We should be realistic, though, and understand that HIV is not currently a central issue when an employer discriminates against LGBT workers. Most of the time, it’s just a case of the employer being a jerk.
Aires the Ram
Wedding cakes, cake decorators, hair dressers, all sorts of gay folks in the entertainment industry, the list is very long and exhaustive, never mind the United States Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force & Coast Guard, the gay truck drivers, doctors/medical personnel, church choir directors in podunk Indiana, what difference does it make? The so-called Christian nazi’s want to get rid of all of us. Look at the attention they’re giving to Russia and parts of Africa now, promoting their genocidal agenda. Don’t think for a hot minute, if they had the power to do so, that they would just stop us from having housing accommodation and employment, no sir, they’d throw us in the ovens and bury us in a ditch. That’s what their ultimate goal is. I hope in my lifetime I never see it. I hate them with every fibre of my being.
erichinnw
?_?
sangsue
The cake decorator was lucky that he was only fired. In Florida you can legally kill someone for texting so who knows what you can do to a gay person.
DShucking
Their cakes are gonna be so un-fabulous now.
DShucking
@sangsue: Kind of a stupid comment.
Caleb in SC
@sangsue: No, he wasn’t killed for texting. He was killed for throwing popcorn at the retired police officer, because, as we all know, if you are assaulted with theater popcorn, the proportional response is definitely deadly force.
damon459
@sangsue: Um no not legally in case you missed it his stand your ground defense was dismissed by judge and he was charged with 2nd degree murder.
damon459
“Yes, Publix has a score of zero on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, but that is mainly because they haven’t completed the survey. It would be nice if Publix played along, but HRC doesn’t automatically get to say Publix is a bully simply because the supermarket chain won’t come over and play in their Equality sandbox.” Um yes queerty it does mean just that, really whomever wrote this should be fired for being a moron!
“We are particularly perplexed by Publix apparently trying to change the rules for jobs that are inherently in the gay domain. Who is next? Professional figure skaters? Wedding coordinators? Hairdressers? Will airline passengers begin to feign surprise when flamboyant flight attendants sashay down the aisle offering sacks of nuts? We should all take a moment to check in with our female gym teachers from years gone by, and make sure everything is okay with them. None of us are safe.” Again more horse shit! Really this site has gone to shit! Did you decide to hire all the talentless hacks from Perez Hilton’s site?
alanj
Appallingly written article, full of gay stereotypes worthy of some bad homophobic tabloid.
chugger76
As a Publix employee I can confirm that their EEO statement includes “sexual orientation” making most of this article incorrect.
Louis
@sangsue: That comment was ridiculous and also highly disrespectful too the man who lost his life due to some unstable older gentlemen.
Its not something too make a joke out of a man lost his life a little girl no longer has a daddy and a wife no longer has her husband.
Doris Fontaine
just as Henry explained I am taken by surprise that a student able to profit $9357 in four weeks on the computer. did you read this webpage… http://gg.gg/z5yu
HirsuteOne
I actually baked a cake like the one in the link for my straight roommate’s birthday. I used the ends of soup ladles to bake the form for the bo..obs and carved the body shape out of a sheet cake. The cake turned out great and my archetype roommate dived right in it to the hoots and hollers of the party guests. Of course, this was the early 80’s and objectifying women in pastry was more socially acceptable than it is today.
stvrsnbrgr
I’m not sure if this is “a thing” – especially in the South, y’all – but if I were an anti-gay bigot I’d be mighty careful about ordering my baked goods from the nice gay boy or girl at the Piggly Wiggly.
http://youtu.be/XDGDvfD4d60
Just sayin’…
DarthKitsune
If I received a cake like the one the link points to, not only would I smash it if the giver’s face, but I’d never speak to them again. I mean seriously? Football??
sangsue
@Louis:
Who is making a joke? I have no trust in Stand Your Ground and what makes people violent and if Pubix is bothered enough to fire someone just because they’re gay, who knows what else the people of Florida are capable of if they hate someone enough.