Allstate fires manager for Christian beliefs concerning homosexuality

AFA and World Net Daily ^ | June 28, 2005 | American Family Association

[ICE-FLYER]

Allstate has fired a manager because he expressed his Christian beliefs concerning homosexuality. Matt Barber was a manager in Allstate's Corporate Security Division. On his own time, and without identifying himself as an employee of Allstate, he wrote a column posted on several websites which was critical of same-sex marriage.

An outside homosexual group complained to Allstate about the column. Because of their support for the homosexual agenda, Barber was immediately fired and ushered off company property.

The message is clear: To work for Allstate one must not publicly express their Christian belief in the Bible's teaching on homosexuality. Barber was fired because he did. Homosexuals can criticize and condemn the Bible's teaching and they are welcomed, but Christians must remain silent.

TAKE ACTION

Allstate has sent a message to all their agents: If you are a Christian and believe the Bible's teaching on homosexuality, you will be fired. While Allstate touts its diversity, that diversity does not include Christian beliefs on homosexuality.

First, send Allstate Chairman Edward M. Liddy an email to register your complaint demanding both a public apology and reinstatement for Mr. Barber with back pay. Then call your local Allstate agent and tell him or her you will not be purchasing any insurance from them.

You can find a listing of Allstate agents in your area by clicking here . Tell the Allstate agent you will tell your friends about their disdain for Christians who believe the Bible's teaching on homosexuality.

Email Allstate Chairman Liddy Now!

Sincerely,

Don

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman American Family Association

[gdani]

But they aren't allowed to fire anyone for their religion

Sure they can. There's tons of ways an employee can be fired, disciplined, etc for practicing their religion.

Title VII only allows for some basic protections & there are many ways an employer can circumvent those.

[Spiff]

Here's one of the articles.

I support what Matt said and his right to say it. Where he goofed up is that he allowed the name of his employer to be associated with his article. See the information at the end of the article in MensNewsDaily.

J. Matt Barber is a non-practicing attorney, an undefeated heavyweight professional boxer (Matt "Bam Bam" Barber), and a professional jazz drummer in the Chicago Land (IL) area. In addition to his Law Degree, Barber holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy. Matt Works for Allstate Insurance Company as a Territorial Senior Manager in Allstate's Law and Regulation Corporate Security (Internal Fraud Investigations) Department.

I think this is grounds for a stern warning, but certainly not grounds for firing someone. If this had been a pro-deviant lifestyle article, or pro-jihadist screed, I'm doubtful that the employee would have even received a warning let alone get fired over it. So, I'm not excusing Allstate for their obvious political correctness, but Barber really opened himself up to having this happen to him.

[pugdog]

Mom's Mabley once said that she did not have any life insurance. She said when she died she wanted it to be a sad day for everyone.

[AD from SpringBay]

What happens when someone is fired for being pro-gay marriage? Has it been tried?

[Outland]

Well, good thing I don't use crooked Allstate anyway. I never have, I never will.

Thank God that I work for a place that doesn't care what I do and think on my time. Thankfully, my boss and I agree on most issues anyway.

[Melas]

There are no laws against "interfering" as you call it. Quite the contrary, you're free to voice your objections to either party in any contract at any time. If you have some factual information to divulge in the process, all the better. The only danger is if you invent something, at which point it becomes slander.

[sportutegrl]

When asked, I tell people my insurance carrier is: Allstatefarmbureau.

[TheBigB]

He didn't goof, really. MND did...

But how did the group connect Barber to the insurance company? It turns out one site that posted the column, MensNewsDaily.com, added to the bio line on the article the fact that Barber worked for Allstate. Barber says he did not include that fact in the original column submission but that the site "disclosed that without my knowledge or consent."

[dmz]

It's buried in the article, but apparently his bio accompanying the article identified him as an Allstate employee.

He did not get fired for his Christian views. He got fired for associating his company with his personal views (views that the company neither holds nor supports).

[Damocles]

Well that adds a whole new layer to the story...

[Brilliant]

Sorry to disagree with you on that. There is a long and well-established line of cases in all of the states that precludes you from doing it. It's called "intentional interference with a contract." Do a Google on it, and you'll see.

But you are right that if all they did was exercise their freedom of speech, then that makes it harder to sue. Not impossible, though.

[DJ MacWoW]

He got fired for associating his company with his personal views (views that the company neither holds nor supports).

See post 48.

[Alouette]

like a good neighbor..........

That's the State Farm slogan.

"You're in good hands...."

[Spiff]

Another of Matt's good articles published in MensNewsDaily.

Again, they included his employment information. Big mistake.

If Matt objected to it, they would have removed it right away. They wouldn't have known who he worked for if he had not told them.

[dmz]

I hear ya, but "Matt Works for Allstate Insurance Company as a Territorial Senior Manager in Allstate's Law and Regulation Corporate Security (Internal Fraud Investigations) Department. " is pretty darn specific information. I'm having trouble that MND invented all of that specificity without Matt having provided it.

[bray]

That's ok, Allstate doesn't need any Christian customers.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Dr.Hilarious]

But he wasn't fired for being religious, he would never have gotten the job, he was fired for expressing an opinion. Not saying I approve of the firing, but it's not saying "I approve of this religion" or whatever. And my larger point is that I think private employers SHOULD be allowed to hire or fire employees for any reason, not that this is the law.

[stinkerpot65]

Allstate advertising targets homosexuals

http://www.commercialcloset.org/cgi-bin/iowa/portrayals.html?record=419

Allstate gives to GLAAD

http://www.gaybusinessworld.com/page.cfm?Sectionid=2&typeofsite=snippetdetail&ID=1293&snippetset=yes&region=0

Allstate promotes "tolerance," "inclusion," and "diversity"

http://www.taclearinghouse.org/clearinghouse/funding.nsf/0/812CFEFFE059831887256CF30065D6EB?OpenDocument

Allstate large donor for LAMBDA

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:rcIImSqLnCMJ:www.touchstonemag.com/blogarchive/2002_10_13_editors.html+allstate+homosexual&hl=en

Allstate insures same sex couples as married

http://www.townhall.com/news/politics/200407/CUL20040707a.shtml

Allstate marketing toward homosexuals

http://www.v7n.com/gay.php

[Nathan Zachary]

I read the whole article, it talks about marriage, and what homosexuality is (n't), it's not really gay bashing stuff. But, he is from SF, so even that must be "bad". He wrote it for mensnewsdaily.

Still, it's a violation of his free speech rights, and alstate will loose.

[Abathar]

"I am sure he will be in good hands."

Instead of the good hands people I think he only got one of their fingers instead.