A law firm says it will file suit against Ford Motor Company because the automaker fired a Christian contract employee for criticizing the company's support of gay employees.
Ford Motor Company says the employee, Thomas Banks, violated its anti-harassment policy.
Banks' law firm, Liberty Institute, says Ford discriminated against Banks for his religious beliefs, in violation of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1991.
Banks, an engineer, was placed at Ford by an engineering contract agency, Rapid Global Business Solutions on April 4, 2011. Attorney Cleve Doty says he had a "pristine" work record at Ford.
But in July, 2014, Banks received an internal employee newsletter from Ford, containing an article marking the 20th anniversary of GLOBE - Ford's Gay, Lesbian Or Bisexual Employees support and advocacy group.
The newsletter encouraged employees to comment on articles, and so Banks did, writing:
For this Ford Motor should be thoroughly ashamed. Endorsing and promoting sodomy is of benefit to no one. This topic is disruptive to the workplace and is an assault on Christians and morality, as well as antithetical to our design and our survival. Immoral sexual conduct should not be a topic for an automotive manufacturer to endorse or promote. And yes-this is historic-but not in a good way. Never in the history of mankind has a culture survived that promotes sodomy. Heterosexual behavior creates life- homosexual behavior leads to death.
Several days later, Banks was told his comment had violated Ford's anti-harassment policy. He was terminated from his placement at Ford Motor Company, and the contractor, RGBSI, fired him.
Banks filed a complaint alleging religious discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a step required before his law firm can file suit.
Attorney Cleve Doty says Liberty Institute will file a religious discrimination lawsuit against Ford and RGBSI on Mr. Banks' behalf if the EEOC declines to take the case.
If you read harassment to mean disagreement, which is what a lot of companies and people are increasingly starting to do, they're saying, 'if you disagree, you must hate.' If we do that, there's no freedom at all. We're not diverse, we're not tolerant, we're not inclusive. We've just said, 'nobody can disagree.' Which is a scary thought.
Ford Motor Company released this statement:
“We have not yet seen the complaint, however, we believe this matter ultimately is between the individual and their agency employer. Ford’s anti-harassment policy was created to foster a respectful, inclusive work environment for all, and we expect employees and agency personnel to act in accordance with this policy.”
