Christian Broadcaster Settles with Gay Employee

Trinity Broadcasting Network reached a confidential settlement with a gay broadcast engineer who charged his former employer with harassment and discrimination.

According to The Orange County Register, "Brian Dugger sued Trinity last March, claiming he was harassed and discriminated against by employees of the world's largest Christian broadcasting empire.

"Paul Crouch, Jr. allegedly taunted Dugger with pornography, said TBN was no place for fairies and declared that 'Brian has a man-gina!'

"Dugger claimed that he was denied promotions, raises and responsibility because of his sexual orientation, and ultimately forced into a 'sham independent contractor relationship' with TBN, so the network could keep its distance from him. That deprived him of the benefits afforded to employees under California and federal laws, the suit said."

Crouch denied the allegations in court documents.

Dugger's $1.9 million suit had reached federal court. His attorney declined to discuss the terms of the settlement with Trinity, which is based in Costa Mesa, Calif.

In 1994, according to the Register, $425,000 was paid to silence accusations of a gay tryst involving Crouch's father, Paul Crouch Sr,, who previously helmed TBN.