Man sues firm over 'homo vegetarian' taunts
A gay vegetarian foreign currency trader says his boss tormented him for being a "homo" who wouldn't eat steak with the boys.
New York Daily News reports Ryan Pacifico has filed a lawsuit against his employer, Calyon, for being mocked about not eating meat and wearing snug-fitting shorts during triathlons.
Pacifico's discrimination suit claims the firm made up lies about his performance to sack him but the real factors were that he was a vegetarian who was perceived to be gay by boss Robert Catalanello.
Court papers say Catalenella called him "a vegetarian homo."
"A trading floor is certainly a manly man's world," Pacifico said.
"I just never expected someone to think it's gay to be a vegetarian or to constantly poke fun at me."
The 28-year-old worked for the firm from 2005 until he was fired last March.
His lawyer, Rick Ostrove, said the firm associated being a vegetarian with being gay.
"It's a ridiculous male stereotype that only real men eat meat."
Pacifico is married and served steak at his wedding last year.
The firm is yet to comment on the allegations.
