(Phoenix) National restaurant chain The Cheesecake Factory Inc. has agreed to pay $345,000 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging it let some male employees sexually harass other male workers in suburban Phoenix.

The settlement announced Tuesday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission includes a requirement that the company train its …

Settlement in lesbian student harassment case

(Vallejo, California) A settlement has been reached between a student, who claimed she had faced anti-gay harassment and discrimination from teachers and school staff, and the Vallejo City Unified School District.

The settlement was reached by the American Civil Liberties Union and includes district-wide anti-harassment training for students and staff.

Rochelle Hamilton, …

Gay parade case’s jury facing key question

SAN DIEGO COURTS — The sexual harassment case brought by four San Diego firefighters against the city should be in the jury’s hands Wednesday, when a dozen men and women likely will struggle to answer a central question:

Did the four firefighters, who were ordered to drive a city fire engine in the 2007 gay pride parade, encounter pervasive or severe harassment from parade spectators and participants?

Each firefighter has taken the stand, and after nearly two weeks of courtroom testimony, two theories have emerged.

City attorneys suggested that the men are homophobic and painted them as money-hungry opportunists who were uncomfortable but not victims of sexual harassment. The defense also said most of the firefighters’problems stemmed from taking their case to the news media and filing the lawsuit.

The firefighters said that not only were they victimized during the parade, they also suffered headaches, anxiety, anger and other stress-related issues because of what they heard and saw: catcalls, insults, simulated sex acts, public nudity, and men touching themselves and each other.

All four firefighters are married, and three have children. They have more than 45 years of combined experience with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

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San Diego Union Tribune, CA -

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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/02/gay-parade-ca…

Court: Straight man can be victim of homophobia

(London) Britain’s Court of Appeal has reversed a lower court ruling that had said a man was not entitled to file a homophobic harassment case against his former employer because he is heterosexual.

Stephen English says he was forced to quit his job at an awning manufacturer because the company refused …