Man Suing Fontbonne Academy Says He Was Fired Because He Is Gay
DEDHAM (CBS) -- It was an emotional day for Matthew Barrett.
The Dorchester resident was in court Tuesday to hear arguments in his discrimination case against Milton's Fontbonne Academy, the Catholic girls' prep school that he says denied him a job because he is gay.
Barrett said the food services manager position he was offered in 2013 was his dream job.
"I just really wanted it," said Barrett. "It shouldn't have happened to me, it was wrong."
Barrett claims the job was rescinded two days after he accepted it - when he listed his husband, Ed Suplee, on an emergency contact form.
The suit was filed on behalf of Barrett by LGBT legal advocate group GLAD. Ben Klein, an attorney for the group, is representing Barrett.
"This is a case of overt discrimination," said Klein.
But Fontbonne's attorney, John Bagley, said the academy has specific religious exemptions from non-discrimination laws. He argues that Barrett's presence at the school would have been inconsistent with the school's catholic message.
"Simply, we request of this court to render a decision in support of our client's statutory right to make an employment decision based on sincerely held religious beliefs," said Bagley in court Tuesday.
There is no word on when the judge will make a decision in the case.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports