Iowa Man Suing Casey's General Store, Claims Unlawful Firing Because He's Gay

(Wayne Shimer)

Wayne Shimer was employed at a Casey's General Store outside of Des Moines, IA, between July and September 2012. His manager learned that he is a married gay man about a month after getting hired. About a month later, Shimer was fired. After being fired, Shimer filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission for what he believes was unlawful discrimination based on his sexual orientation. The state agency reviewed his case and eventually issued a right-to-sue letter earlier this month, which prompted the 22-year-old man to filed a lawsuit against Casey's General Store.

According to Shimer's lawsuit, his manager learned that he was gay roughly one month after being hired by Casey's. He was reportedly called into her office and discouraged from acting "feminine" while in the store. It was explained that his supposedly feminine mannerisms made customers and other co-workers uncomfortable.

Additionally, his husband was not allowed to visit him during his shifts. Shimer claims that other employees of Casey's General Store were permitted to have family members, boyfriends, and girlfriends visit them briefly during their shifts.

Shimer also claims that his supervisor also repeatedly made derogatory comments about him, indicating that "you don't fit in normal society."

He was eventually fired in September 2012 about a week after getting into an argument with one of his co-workers over how she could have handled a customer interaction better. Shimer and his attorney believe that this incident was a pretext for him being fired based on his sexual orientation.

Casey's General Stores hasn't issued any public comments on this lawsuit.

Shimer and his attorney are seeking monetary damages. He also hopes that his lawsuit will discourage other employers from discrimination of LGBT employees.