Posted on 08/14/2005 8:09:01 AM PDT by Byron Norris
SAN FRANCISCO -- A San Francisco man who says he was devastated after he was identified as gay on a national Spanish-language radio show will be paid $270,000 by Univision Radio, an arbitrator has ruled. Roberto Hernandez, 45, was driving to work in 2002 when he received a phone call from a man who said that he met Hernandez at a San Francisco gay bar. The caller then announced that the conversation was being broadcast live on the "Raul Brindis and Pepito Show," based in Houston. Hernandez worked for the local station that broadcast the show, and sold advertising for the program. He said he was so depressed by the incident that he could no longer work. "It's a nightmare," Hernandez said. "How do you live with such an embarrassment in your life? How do you live when someone makes your life so insignificant? " Hernandez had been discreet about disclosing his sexual orientation before the incident, not even telling his family. Arbitrator Rebecca Westerfield found on Friday that Hernandez had suffered emotional distress but dismissed claims of sexual harassment. She said that Hernandez had no choice but to quit his job and was owed workers' compensation. Hernandez was awarded $250,000 and nearly $20,000 in economic damages because of the emotional distress that led to seven months of unemployment after quitting his job. Univision attorneys declined to comment on the case.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Imagnine the shame of being outed on THE OFFICIAL FRIDAY SILLINESS THREAD.... how much would that be worth? :)
Discreet? Hanging out in a gay bar? Like nobody else goes there? Like.....Oh, to heck with it.
Maybe if he hadn't been a joto he wouldn't need to feel embarrassed.
He goes shopping at gay bars and never thought he would be 'outed'. I'd say it's a reasonable outcome so why should he be awarded anything.?
Guess somebody doesn't have much Gay Pride.
I'm sure gay man's lawyer was seriously working that angle, but it didn't pan "out."
Hmmm,you make your own bed....you lie in it. How dare you choose to frequent these public places in full view of the public eye. Also,what kind of life are you leading when you are embarassed because someone found out?....
I thought that the constitution allowed freedom of speech. I know it has to be true, but in this case it is true.
I am confused.
Why was he embarrassed and humiliated?
I thought homosexuality was normal?/
This is no different than having your boss aks you in for a private discussion about a divorce while broadcasting it to everyone in your building via speakerphone.
In addition, there are laws against putting poeple on the air without thier knowledge, and they certainly apply to the non-public figure employees of radio stations.
If you are male...restrict penis contact to yours. Not rocket science.
Well somebody has been spreading the word that I'm a lesbian trapped in a man's body. I want some cash Now! (But if any lipsticks wanna call, that's cool too)
If a man passes himself off as a San Francisco gay but he is subsequently "outed" on the radio as actually being heterosexual, can he sue and win a big award?
I'm sure he was going to be "awarded" something, if you know what I mean. Something that probably would cost the US taxpayer a good deal of money.
This wasn't so much about a radio station outing the guy it was about his employer outing him using confidential information in his employment file......
Had it been a listener and not an employer the outcome may have been different.
The courts were right on this one.....the award was a punitive $250K for the radio station and $20K in compensatory. The judge obviously was punishing the radio station for it's extreme bad judgment and it's clear intent to hurt and embarrass the individual.
This is in no way tacit support for gay's but a clear warning to employers that employees personnel and medical records are not to be used as a weapon.
NeverGore :^)
So, it's OK to be gay but it's not ok for anyone to know? Exactly why is that?
Yeah ... what could be more embarrassing than being gay in San Francisco?
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