GenQ

‘And the new AIDS LifeCycle fundraiser director is… Jeffrey Shapiro’. That sentence was what AIDS fundraiser Jeffrey Shapiro expected. Instead, he was stood down, and is now suing producers for the event claiming he was not given the position due to his straight sexual orientation.

The Bay Area Reporter reported on the lawsuit, in which Shapiro has filed claims against the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Centre last week.

discriminated against because he is not gay

The lawsuit claims that although Mr Shapiro’s “performance had been excellent and everybody liked him as a person”, he was fired from his job because employers “needed somebody who better fit into the culture”. According to Mr Shapiro, his performance with the organization “had nothing to do” with the request for him to step down.

Mr Shapiro declined to comment, with his attorney Daniel Holzman stating “He did say he feels these are two organizations that do good work and that he doesn't want to say anything negative about the organizations” and that Mr Shapiro “feels he is being discriminated against because he is not gay. The way he was let go left a sour taste in his mouth.”

In response to the claims, Jim Key, Chief Public Affairs Officer, said via statement to the Bay Area Reporter “It's our policy not to comment on personnel matters, but we can say that the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation never have and never would terminate someone on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity”. “In fact, both organizations pride themselves on a diverse workforce that includes many straight people, including in the highest levels of management and on the AIDS LifeCycle team.”

Mr Shapiro is suing for compensation for emotional and mental distress, and also an injunction against the two organizations to prevent them “from engaging in each of the unlawful practice” in the future.