“I’ve been spat on, I’ve had people scare me, I’ve had people contact me at work anonymously, saying ‘I know where your children go to school’,’” Cassandra Liebeknecht says. “There was also a gentleman who continues to this day to slander me for my sexuality.”
Liebeknecht is the general manager of the Feast Festival, a popular queer arts event held each year in October in Adelaide, Australia. She is also heterosexual. But when word got out that she wasn’t actually a member of the LGBTQ community, she says, people became “vicious.”
Related: Gay Man Can’t Sue For Unbelievable Homophobic Harassment He Endured At Work
“There’s a lot of stuff on Facebook,” she laments. “In regards to discrimination, being the general manager of Feast … it has not been easy.”
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Coincidentally, at the same time Liebeknecht says she was being harassed for her heterosexuality, she was also accused of “professional misconduct” allegedly involving the mismanagement of finances. As a result, she has been placed on paid leave while the board investigates.
“I’ve sought legal advice,” she says. “There’s been enough slander against me. I’m very concerned in regards to any further slander. I’m concerned about my future and my family and what this might do to me.”
She also says that it shouldn’t matter what her sexual orientation is as long as they are the best qualified person for the job.
Related: Antigay Christians Fear Losing Their Jobs For Being Homophobic At Work
But not everyone agrees.
“For me, the issue is more about, does the person have the knowledge, the trust, the networks and the skills, to engage and represent that community?” Karen Bryant, a lesbian artist, says.
Bryant believes that any group that is supposed to represent minorities “should be doing everything it can to ensure that leadership comes from those communities.”
Meanwhile, officials from the festival say Liebeknecht’s heterosexuality had nothing to do with her suspension from work, saying: “Feast’s view is–and always has been–that someone’s sexuality or gender should never be discriminated against. We support and celebrate all sexualities and gender identities.”
The organization declined to comment on the current internal investigation surrounding Liebeknecht.
AlexM
The rise of SJW within the lgbt community or “queer community” as they like to call it.
Ukin Blome
Oh I’m sure she has all the proof she needs, to expose herself as a complete lying buffoon. It must have been difficult for her to tolerate all that discrimination until she got caught stealing money.
DCguy
Interesting the direction that the post was written.
So in other words, there were possible financial problems, and the person accused is now making a claim to deflect those accusations.
Articles erasing bisexuality by trying to push the term “Heteroflexible” articles claiming heterosexuals are victims……whats the deal here?
Maude
This could be a case of backstabbing with ugly lies about the person they wish to harm because of envy and jealousy or whatever is in the backstabbers sick mind.
I know because it happened to me, and when I found out what was going on (someone in the office confided in me)it was so rampant, it was too late to stop it.
I made the usual efforts to put an end to it, but though it was stopped in its tracks, it never really was gone.
I resigned after I found another job.
I never forgot it…that’s the real curse of being stabbed in the back.
broadshoulder
iebeknecht says she was being harassed for her heterosexuality, she was also accused of “professional misconduct” allegedly involving the mismanagement of finances. As a result, she has been placed on paid leave while the board investigates.
So she was stealing? And because she is bisexual she claims she suffered heterophobic abuse. Its a blame game – who is the biggest victim here?
Brian
The GBTLQI cult is similar to Scientology.
Danny279
“word got out that she wasn’t actually a member of the LGBTQ community”
I’m gay and I’m not a member of the “LGBTQ community.”
I’m fine with G. I’m fine with LGB. But I will never have anything to do with LGBT2QIAAP+* or similar nonsense.
Kangol
@AlexM: Please go back to Breitbart with that “SJW” crap.
No one “spat” on or is harassing this woman. She appears to have been mismanaging funds, got busted, and is now attacking gay people. There are tons of openly straight people, especially women, who work with LGBTQ organizations and face no hostility. She should come up with a better story. The tiny fake violins already popped their strings.
Billy Budd
The bitch stole money from us. Now she must pay and stop whining.
Chris
She is being investigated for stealing money and is claiming harassment. Talk about chutzpah!
No
@Danny279: Me either, Danny. It’s such bullshit.
jdboston617
Queerty editors, please don’t feed into this woman’s buffoonery and slander with an article. She will be looking for “evidence” of harassment. This type of press will only help build her (seemingly) bogus case. Thank you.
dwes09
@AlexM: You have a problem with social justice? That does not say much for you as a person. As a gay person, disdaining social justice is pretty much asking to be relegated to second class citizenship. Perhaps you enjoy playing toady to those who dislike you (kind of like enjoying rimming dirty ass), most of us do not.