Detailed accusations of gay harassment by the Rev Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition came to light Thursday.
The claims, published in the Windy City Times, are by a former coalition employee who says he was mistreated, and eventually fired, because he is gay.
Tommy Bennett is a gay man who worked for Chicago`s Rainbow PUSH Coalition for roughly 2 years-and-a-half years.
During that time, he had a job in community affairs that he loved, according to the Windy City Times, and later a job he did not as the Rev. Jesse Jackson`s travel assistant.
In a formal complaint Bennett claims he had to escort women to Jackson`s room and clean up his room after sexual intercourse with women.
He claims he had to do it because of his sexual orientation.
In the detailed complaint, the former PUSH employee says there was more.
In 2008 Bennett says Jackson summoned him to his New York City hotel room where he was eventually instructed to apply cream to Jackson who had a rash between his legs. Bennett says he refused.
Another time at the Hilton O`Hare, Bennett was allegedly called to Jackson`s room at 1 a.m. The Reverend, according to the filing, was standing only in his briefs and a white t-shirt.
Bennett makes the claim that Jesse Jackson Sr. was excited, and took this to mean, that Jackson wanted Bennett to perform oral sex on him.
Bennett was let go from PUSH on December 23rd, 2009, due to lack of funding, even though others, Bennett maintained, were hired after his termination.
Bennett's lawyer says Bennett stands by the allegations and is seeking approximately $450,000 in damages.
Jackson`s civil rights organization did however release a statement saying the Rainbow PUSH Coalition unequivocally denies Tommy Bennett`s false claims of harassment, retaliation and discrimination.
No comments:
Post a Comment