Sacked HIV+ gay man sues McDonald’s
A 44-year-old man in Iowa has claimed he was physically and verbally abused because of his HIV status and then sacked from his job in a McDonald’s restaurant.
Daniel Carver has filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission alleging he was fired because of his sexuality and HIV+ status.
He is seeking damages for disability and employment discrimination.
Since last year gay people in Iowa have been legally protected from discrimination at work.
Mr Carver claims being HIV+ is a physical disability.
He was sacked in February after four months.
He claims he was given reduced hours, called names and threatened and was punched by a manager at the McDonald’s restaurant in Dryersville.
The Iowa Telegraph Herald reported:
“He claims it started with a failed promise to be promoted to manager and a full-time schedule slashed to 10 to 15 hours per week.
“A manager punched him in the stomach and a fellow employee called him a ‘faggot rat’ and slapped him with a piece of cheese.
“Then, the discrimination escalated into death threats from fellow employees.”
A spokesperson for Karpinski Enterprises, the owner of the McDonald’s in Dyersville, told KCRG TV that the accusations are unfounded.
