Man Outed on Radio
Show to Receive $270K
By AP from the
NYTimes on the Web, August 14, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO -- A San
Francisco man who says he was devastated after he was identified as gay on a
national Spanish-language radio show will be paid $270,000 by Univision Radio,
an arbitrator has ruled.
Roberto Hernandez, 45, was driving to work in 2002 when he received a phone call
from a man who said that he met Hernandez at a San Francisco gay bar. The
caller then announced that the conversation was being broadcast live on the
''Raul Brindis and Pepito Show,'' based in Houston.
Hernandez worked for the local station that broadcast the show, and sold
advertising for the program. He said he was so depressed by the incident
that he could no longer work.
''It's a nightmare,'' Hernandez said. ''How do you live with such an
embarrassment in your life? How do you live when someone makes your life
so insignificant? ''
Hernandez had been discreet about disclosing his sexual orientation before the
incident, not even telling his family.
Arbitrator Rebecca Westerfield found on Friday that Hernandez had suffered
emotional distress but dismissed claims of sexual harassment. She said
that Hernandez had no choice but to quit his job and was owed workers'
compensation.
Hernandez was awarded $250,000 and nearly $20,000 in economic damages because of
the emotional distress that led to seven months of unemployment after quitting
his job.
Univision attorneys declined to comment on the case.
Information from: San Francisco Chronicle
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