Gay man says he was called ‘greedy faggot’ and ‘bitchy poof’ by his bosses
An Australian gay man is suing his former employers over what he says was a sustained campaign of homophobic abuse.
Marketing director Glenn Hall said he was ostracised, undermined and made to endure continual homophobic comments by colleagues at Communicado Marketing in Melbourne.
Hall told The Herald Sun that this abuse came from the highest levels of the company.
“When I asked to have my contractual bonus paid, I was aggressively called a ‘greedy faggot’ by one of the directors,” he said.
“Those two words completely destabilised me, they left me powerless.”
In a public post on Facebook titled “Maybe your bosses just aren’t that into you,” he also alleged that emails and texts between colleagues had labelled him “homo,” “bitchy poof,” “evil,” “wanker” and “freak.”
These co-workers also told government investigators he was likely HIV-positive, according to Hall, and expressed a wish to physically attack him, with messages such as: “I wish there was a gun emoticon.”
The former marketing director said the company had taken no action to stop the bullying, leading him to suffer trauma and depression.
He said: “The incidents have completely eroded the career path I had spent years working towards.
“I know I didn’t do anything to deserve it and I try to tell myself that there isn’t something inherently wrong with me, but it’s difficult to believe because I feel like a failure – certainly like I’m less of a person.
“I feel like I’m living in the past as I am often replaying these moments in my head.
“It’s torture,” he added.
“Other times I feel defeated, powerless and alone.”
Hall is reportedly seeking damages, which includes $450,000 AUD in lost bonuses.
Australia has taken huge steps towards equality over the past few months.
In December, the Parliament made equal marriage a reality, validating the public’s ‘Yes’ decision in the country-wide postal vote on the issue.
It was the 25th country to legalise same-sex marriage.
There were emotional scenes as Parliament debated the move, with MPs breaking down in tears as they gave their reasons for backing equality.
A gay MP even proposed to his long-term partner during a debate.
Tim Wilson, a Liberal MP, fought back tears as he popped the question to boyfriend Ryan Bolger in the country’s House of Representatives.
And just last month, THE Northern Territory made it so that adoption was legal for same-sex couples anywhere in the country.
Before March, only straight couples in the state were allowed this right.