MAN WINS DISCRIMINATION SUIT AGAINST GAY PUB

A former assistant manager has won a discrimination case against London’s oldest gay pub after its new owners took steps to ‘de-gay’ the clientele.

Forty one year old Charles Lisboa claimed that the owners, RealPubs, who bought the pub in 2008 and re-opened it as the Pembroke Arms, went as far as putting up a sign stating “This is not a gay pub”.

When this failed to detract gay customers the management instructed Lisboa to stop overtly gay behaviour in the pub and describing some clients as “queens”. The management also made comments about the ‘camp’ behaviour of staff. Four weeks after the new owners took over Lisboa resigned.

PinkPaper.com has reported that the London Central Employment Tribunal ruled that Lisboa had been on the receiving end of discriminatory and abusive behaviour and awarded him compensation.

“I am delighted to have won my case and to have exposed the discriminatory and anti-gay actions of RealPubs. No-one should have to put up with repeated abuse and prejudice in the workplace. That is why I brought my case,” said Lisboa in a statement.

He is however planning to appeal a portion of the ruling which concluded that he could not claim constructive dismissal after he voluntarily chose to resign. Lisboa argues that the working environment was intolerable and that he had no choice but to resign.