Tanisha Matthews, a self-identified Apostolic Christian, sued her former paycheck writers at Walmart for discriminating against her religious beliefs (and violating the 1964 Civil Rights Act) just because back in September 2005, she screamed at a lesbian co-worker that God hates gays, that gays should not “be on earth,” will “go to hell,” and are not “right in the head.” The Illinois store where she worked as an overnight stocker terminated her, because hey, anti-gay harassment isn’t cool. In suing the retail giant, Matthews argued that she needed to be able to attack homosexuals on the job, because it’s part of her religion. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed: “If Matthews is arguing that Wal-Mart must permit her to admonish gays at work to accommodate her religion, the claim fails. Moreover, Wal-Mart fired her because she violated company policy when she harassed a coworker, not because of her beliefs, and employers need not relieve workers from complying with neutral workplace rules as a religious accommodation if it would create an undue hardship.” Welp, it’s only a matter of time before Matthews gets her revenge by writing book reviews.
TMikel
Well, I believe that intolerant fundamentalist Christians will go to hell and have no place on earth, and they certainly are not right in the head – as demonstrated by Matthews’ screaming at a co-worker. Furthermore, I find no place in their much quoted and abused Bible that says they are required to act in such a violent manner, especially on the job. She deserved to be terminated and it would be nice to think that she would learn from this, but I suspect she will just become more intolerant and hate filled. Still, I am quite pleased at this outcome.
Watch the fundies start to whine
And now begins the Fundie whining how “they’re so discriminated against,” because hey, they should be allowed to hate on whomever they wish, all in the name of God.
Is it any wonder why religion is becoming so marginalized?
GingerBrandon
The fact that people think that they can discriminate against other people actively shows how ignorant people are. I’m so glad I live in an evolving progressive age where this stuff is starting to be universally recognized as ridiculous.
Shannon1981
So this crazy broad thinks its her right to scream her intolerance in a workplace with a non discrimination policy? That isn’t accommodating religious beliefs, it is allowing for harassment in the workplace, thus creating a hostile work environment. Way to go court system for making the right decision.
RoRo
Right, stop trying to use God as a weapon. Jesus’s purpose on earth was to prove that ritual and dogma don’t pave your way to heaven. Of all the commandments, he said, the greatest one is “Love”. Screaming hateful things does not in any way imply “love”. Fail!
Cam
Funny, I bet if Tanisha Matthews was denied work at a Mormon owned company back in the 70’s because THEIR religion wasn’t very big on minorities, she would have been screaming that their religious beliefs didn’t matter.
She’s a bigot and just is trying to use any excuse. Good for Wal-Mart for firing her ignorant A**
prohomo
@RoRo: That’s only half true, RoRO-that same gentle Jesus also preached the severe law and hell. Hmmm, why wasn’t that in your mini sermon, huh?
B
No. 2 · Watch the fundies start to whine wrote, “And now begins the Fundie whining how “they’re so discriminated against,” because hey, they should be allowed to hate on whomever they wish, all in the name of God.”
The funny thing is that the U.S. Constitution gives them the right to “hate on whomever they wish, all in the name of God,” but not the right to express that hatred at work where it would interfere with another citizen’s right to earn a living.
Hellarious
There should be no allowance for hate speech in the work setting. I am thrilled that the Court did the right thing and that WalMart canned her precious, Bible-wielding arse.
Now, if I we can get people to stop inviting others to their ‘prayer circles’ via company email, that will be progress as well.
Scott
This headline makes it look as if Walmart was ruled not to let their employees spew hate speech. Walmart told their employees that they can’t act this way, and the court confirmed it.
kueerduck
Walmart employs people from the land of misfit toys from top to bottom. Expect nothing less than ignorance and pettiness. And by the way walfart is hell.