CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The former director of California's AIDS/LifeCycle fund-raiser has sued two HIV/AIDS nonprofits that put on the ride, claiming they fired him because he is not gay.
Jeffrey Shapiro filed suit Thursday in Los Angeles superior court, alleging sexual orientation discrimination and intentional infliction of emotional distress by his former employers, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, City News Service reported.
In his lawsuit, Shapiro claims leaders of the two HIV/AIDS groups hired him in March, then met with him in June and fired him, telling him that "everybody liked him as a person, but they needed somebody who better fit into the culture."
When he asked for clarification, he said in court papers, a director of the Los Angeles center told him that "things like this happen and that they made a mistake to think this could work."
AIDS/LifeCycle, a 545-mile cycling event down the California coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles, benefits HIV/AIDS research. The June 2007 ride drew 2,700 participants and generated a record $11 million, according to the event's Web site.
That ride had been managed by longtime AIDS/LifeCycle director Chris Cole, who left last month, according to Jim Key, public affairs director for the Los Angeles center, to Gay.com. Shapiro had been hired before Cole's departure to provide a transition period, Key said.
"It's our policy not to comment on personnel matters, but we can say that the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation never have and never would terminate someone on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity," Key told Gay.com.
"In fact, both organizations pride themselves on a diverse work force that includes many straight people, including in the highest levels of management and on the AIDS/LifeCycle team," Key said. These include one of Shapiro's two direct supervisors, the director of development at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Key told Gay.com.
AIDS/LifeCycle's director, who manages "a $11 million operating budget (including revenues) and 20-person staff in San Francisco and Los Angeles," reports to leaders of both nonprofits, AIDS/LifeCycle says on its Web site.
Shapiro seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. (Barbara Wilcox, The Advocate)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Supreme Court lets Idaho enforce law criminalizing gender-affirming care for minors
April 15 2024 8:47 PM
Plus
Yahoo FeedGay fetish artist Rex has died — see some of his sexy work
April 15 2024 8:13 PM
Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle are expecting! Here's when baby Griner is arriving
April 15 2024 12:52 PM
Tennessee Senate passes bill making 'recruiting' for trans youth care a felony
April 14 2024 11:17 AM