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Gay Postal Worker Sues After Years of Harassment, Death Threats

Gay Postal Worker Sues After Years of Harassment, Death Threats

Published 09-15-03

Submitted by Employment Lawyers' Group Plc

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The Employment Lawyers' Group, PLC announced the filing on September 4, 2003, of a lawsuit against the United States Postal Service on behalf of Modesto postal worker Chad Grumbling, who is alleged to have suffered years of verbal and physical harassment by co-workers, including death threats because he is gay. The suit was filed in the United States District Court in Fresno, case number CIV-F 03-6196.

Chad Grumbling alleges in his suit that his fellow postal workers harassed him by:

  • Chasing him in a car around Modesto while yelling that he would be killed
  • Leaving a telephone message saying he would be gunned down
  • Dumping Fruit Loops and Juicy Fruit gum in his work area
  • Daily yelling "Fag Alert!" or "Queer in the John!" when he went to the restroom
  • Urinating into his locker at the post office
  • Scrawling "Faggot!" on is locker
  • Calling him "fudgepacker" "queer" "sissy" "fairy" "queerboy" and "faggot" constantly at work
  • Repeatedly leaving gay pornography in his work area with his name written on the photographs
  • Repeatedly writing on the restroom wall: "Free blow jobs 1-800-call Chad"
  • Miming sex acts to taunt him at work

    Grumbling alleges that he complained to management about all of the incidents over a period of more than five years, but the harassment continued. In 1999, after he was chased around Modesto and threatened with death, Grumbling bought a handgun and told his boss that he bought the gun since management wasn't protecting him against the illegal harassment and threats by fellow postal workers. Management investigated Grumbling's purchase of the gun and found that he had properly registered it and took safety classes so they didn't discipline him.

    Grumbling filed suit after an administrative law judge at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that the federal equal employment opportunity laws did not protect him because they did not prohibit sexual orientation discrimination or harassment. Grumbling filed suit to test what protections gay workers have under federal law, to recover damages for the years of harassment that he suffered, and to raise awareness about the severity of this problem that continues to exist in the workplace.

    SEE MODESTO BEE STORY ON THE WEB AT: www.modbee.com/local/story/7412155p-8331164c.html.

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