Homophobia Makes for a Not-So-Happy Meal

Not about to let McDonald’s serve discrimination, the New York-based Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund has recently filed suit on behalf of Zikkeria Bellamy, an MTF transgender youth.

Last July, the 17-year-old completed an online application, and was requested to interview with the International Drive establishment in Orlando, Fla. Yet after one manager refused to see her, reported the Orlando Sentinel, a second laughed in her face and told Bellamy to leave.

The teenager then received a hostile voicemail from that second manager, notifying her McDonald’s does “not hire faggots.” The voicemail, uploaded onto Youtube by Bellamy, also caught the second manager saying, “You lied to me. You told me you was a woman . . . I can’t believe you. You’re a lying brother.”

In response, Allison Garrett – a spokeswoman for the local McDonald’s restaurant – issued a statement to the Orlando Sentinel explaining that the employee responsible for the voicemail "acted outside the scope of his authority and was not responsible for hiring."

Ms. Garrett’s statement did not mention the first manager, but still attempted to reaffirm McDonald’s “has a zero tolerance policy prohibiting discrimination or harassment in the restaurant.”

Thirty-eight states, including Florida, do not ban employment discrimination based upon gender identity.