PHILADELPHIA – An openly gay man identified as John Doe in court papers is suing Guess, Inc., for the treatment he says he received while employed at its Sands Bethlehem outlet store.
Doe’s Sept. 17 lawsuit in Philadelphia federal court says he was named assistant store manager in Bethlehem in December 2018 but staff did not warm to him
“Doe began to suffer ostracism, aversion, and isolation from the other male employees on account of Doe being openly gay,” the suit says. “The male employees were subordinate employees whom Doe was supposed to supervise as the Assistant Store Manager at the location in question.
“Doe’s male subordinate employees turned the complete opposite direction or intentionally ignored Doe, acting as if they were completely disgusted with Doe, hated Doe, and never wanted to be associated with, let alone supervised by, a man known to be gay.”
One male employee allegedly set Doe up to be fired. He allegedly accused “Doe of sexual misconduct by digitally penetrating or ‘fingering’ the male employee in the anus, which is not only untrue, but revolting and utterly preposterous on its face.
“The Defendants’ lies also constitute cruel and sadistic mistreatment of Doe. The false accusation, in and of itself, is a form of sexual harassment, and constitutes rank discrimination.
“Afterward, Doe followed up and specifically denied the false accusation. Defendants then shifted the reasoning and stated to Doe that Doe was terminated for allegedly ‘breaking company policy,’ which Doe denies.”