Reprinted from NewsMax.com
June 7, 2007
Gay Adviser Sues DNC
A former staffer for the Democratic National Committee has filed a lawsuit against the organization, claiming he was the victim of discrimination because he is gay.
Donald Hitchcock, who was a gay outreach adviser for the committee, filed suit in Washington against the DNC, Chairman Howard Dean and two party officials, charging that discrimination was behind his firing on May 2, 2006.
According to the suit, "Mr. Hitchcock had to lobby for months to be included in regularly scheduled political department meetings. When he attended these meetings on his own volition, uninvited by the DNC . . . other staff treated him with hostility.
The suit alleges that the DNCs highest priority for Hitchcock, and for gays in general, was to secure donations from the gay community.
On April 20, 2006, Hitchcocks domestic partner Paul Yandura a longtime party activist sent an open letter to gay Democrats saying Dean failed to adequately defend gay rights, according to the Washington Blade, a weekly news source serving Washingtons gay community.
The letter criticized Dean and the Democratic Party for not getting involved in state ballot measures banning gay marriage.
The letter also urged gays to refrain from donating money to the DNC until the committee more actively supported gay rights.
The letter was written without Hitchcocks knowledge, the Blade reported, but he was blamed "for failing to stop Mr. Yandura from sending his letter, the suit states.
Hitchcock was fired 12 days after the letter was sent.
"This is retaliation, plain and simple, Yandura told the Blade last year.
Responses to the suit assert that the defendants "did not at any time discriminate against Hitchcock and "did not threaten, interfere or retaliate against him.
Submitted by Kelly Ann
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