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New Zealand McDonald's Employee Reprimanded For Being 'Too Gay,' Told Not To 'Turn' Customers Gay

Is This Man 'Too Gay' For McDonald's?
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By 

Deputy Director of News & Analytics, HuffPost

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A New Zealand McDonald's employee says he was reprimanded and harassed by management for being "too gay."

Sean Bailey, an employee at a McDonald's franchise in Auckland, told TVNZ's OneNews that he was discriminated against for being gay on multiple occasions. He made the claims during a May 1 protest on Quay Street against the fast food chain.

Bailey allegedly faced three incidents of discrimination by two different managers -- one of which was reportedly about his voice sounding "too gay" -- and he says the encounters made him "embarrassed" to return to work.

"One of my managers said, 'If you act gay on my shift, I will discipline you,'" he told OneNews. "He also said, 'If you turn anyone else in the store gay, I will punish you and make you lose your job.'" Adding, "I had to call in sick just because I couldn't work with him, which meant I lost work hours and money."

Bailey has the support of Unite, a New Zealand workers' union that fights to improve workers' wages and work conditions. The group led Wednesday's picket, according to GayNZ. Unite rep Joe Carolan revealed one of the managers who harassed Bailey was moved to another location, which he likened to the Catholic Church's covering for sexually abusive priests.

"I think McDonald’s have gone for the Catholic Church solution here. Rather than reprimand or fire someone for gross discrimination, they simply moved him to another store," Carolan told GayNZ. “And I don’t know how gay or lesbian people at that store feel about this manager there. Will it be another couple of months before we have a similar report there?”

In response to the discrimination, Bailey wants to hold a "Turn McDonald’s Gay Day" kiss-in in Auckland, which has the backing of Unite as well as the Queer Avengers, a gay activist group.

“Management is trying to use homophobia to control workers,” Queer Avenger member Ian Anderson said in a press release. “But if we stand up and fight back together, we can overcome this tactic.” Anderson added that the group will support any action taken by McDonald's employees against discrimination and exploitation.

The Huffington Post previously spoke with a media representative for McDonald's U.S. about the company's stance on equal rights in regards to a story about transgender bathroom issues. That representative said McDonald's U.S. doesn't stand for discrimination of any kind.

“At McDonald’s, we respect and value everyone," the spokeswoman said. "We have a strict policy prohibiting any form of discrimination in our restaurants. We recognize and appreciate individuals’ rights and require all our restaurants to follow local, state and federal laws."

A global media relations representative could not immediately be reached for comment.

Unite Union gathered on Quay Street on Wednesday to picket the breakdown in negotiations with McDonald's over a collective agreement regarding better wages. Cops were called to the scene, even though the protest was peaceful, Yahoo! News New Zealand notes.

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Before You Go

21 LGBT-Friendly Products And Companies
Apple(01 of21)
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Not only is Tim Cook, the tech company's CEO, an out and proud gay man, Apple has long had a record of supporting the queer community.

In 2014, thousands of Apple employees celebrated Pride and the company released a statement in support of the Supreme Court's 2013 decision regarding marriage equality saying, "Apple strongly supports marriage equality and we consider it a civil rights issue. We applaud the Supreme Court for its decisions today." (credit:Chesnot via Getty Images)
Doritos(02 of21)
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Doritos released a special limited edition rainbow-colored version of its beloved chips in September 2015 to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the It Gets Better project.Sadly, the brand's bold and beautiful move drew anger and calls for a boycott from some consumers. (credit:.)
Starbucks(03 of21)
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Starbucks has a long history of support for and solidarity with the LGBT community. Not only did the organization raise a Pride flag over its Seattle headquarters in 2014, but the company's CEO famously told an anti-gay shareholder that he was free to "sell [his] shares of Starbucks and buy shares in another company" if he had a problem with the company's pro-gay values. The company also released its first LGBT commercial in 2014 featuring drag queens Bianca Del Rio and Adore Delano.

In November 2015 the coffee chain partnered with the Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) Safe Place program, an initiative that reportedly aims to train 2,000 Starbucks employees on how to respond to and engage with LGBT victims of violence and effectively report hate crimes to police. (credit:Starbucks)
American Apparel(04 of21)
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In 2009, American Apparel put its "Legalize Gay" t-shirt in storefront windows in Washinton, D.C. When a group of anti-LGBT vandals broke the store's windows, the company didn't back down, but rather agreed to send shirts to any group in D.C. that was fighting for gay rights.

The company also released a line of LGBT t-shirts in 2013 in cooperation with GLAAD and has featured queer models -- including transgender models -- on numerous occasions. (credit:American Apparel)
Levi's(05 of21)
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In 2011, Levi's found itself at odds with the Boy Scout's 'Three Gs' principle that had guided the Scouts' membership model for more than 80 years -- that everyone is welcome, provided they are not gay, godless, or a girl. The San Francisco-based denim company pulled its Boy Scout funding, due to the group's exclusionary practice at the time.

In 2014 the company launched a line of Pride-themed t-shirts and hats to support the community. (credit:Levi Strauss )
Oreo(06 of21)
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In June 2012, Oreo posted a photo of a rainbow sextuple-stacked cookie to its Facebook page in honor of Pride month. While the responses were mostly positive, some commenters were outraged, even calling for a boycott of the product. Still, Basil Maglaris, Kraft's associate director of corporate affairs, said that the positive comments on the post "far outweighed" the negative ones. (credit:Oreo)
Home Depot (07 of21)
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A May 2012 post on the American Family Association web site proclaims, "AFA is promoting a boycott of Home Depot until it agrees to remain neutral in the homosexual culture war. The total number of people who have signed the Home Depot boycott pledge is 719,037." The pledge condemned Home Depot for giving "financial and corporate support to open displays of homosexual activism," because this helps expose "small children to lascivious displays of sexual conduct by homosexuals and cross-dressers." In response to the pledge, which was delivered at Home Depot's annual shareholder meeting, Chairman Blake responded, "We are, and will remain, committed to a culture that fosters an inclusive environment for our associates, our customers and communities in which we exist." (credit:Home Depot)
Target(08 of21)
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Target, which came under fire in 2013 for reportedly making a donation to an organization that supported an anti-gay Republican gubernatorial candidate in Virginia, has made great strides toward inclusivity in recent years.

The company signed an amicus brief in support of marriage equality, while a commercial for their "Made to Matter" product line featured two gay men painting with a child.

In 2015, Target rang in Pride month in a very big way, introducing a rainbow-themed clothing and accessories line as well as an inclusive ad campaign. (credit:Target)
Ben & Jerry's(09 of21)
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Ben & Jerry's renamed its iconic "Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough" ice cream flavor to "I Dough, I Dough," in celebration of the historic Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage nationwide in June 2015.

“Ben & Jerry’s is proud of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision against discrimination as it boldly stands up for equality for same sex couples everywhere,” Jostein Solheim, the CEO of Ben & Jerry’s, said in a press release. (credit:Kevin Schafer via Getty Images)
Nike(10 of21)
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Nike got into the LGBT Pride Month spirit in 2013 a very big way -- with the expansion of its all-new, gay-friendly shoe and clothing line.

According to Esquire, profits from the sale of the athletic giant's rainbow-hued #BeTrue collection will be donated to the LGBT Sports Coalition.

In 2012, the company launched the Nike LGBT Sports Summit in Portland, Oregon. The event, founded by Outsports' Cyd Zeigler, the National Center for Lesbian Rights Sports Project Director Helen Carroll and LGBT sports pioneer Pat Griffin, included college and professional athletes, coaches, athletic administrators, political figures, LGBT advocates, journalists and more. (credit:Roberto Machado Noa via Getty Images)
Chobani(11 of21)
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The yogurt company debuted a stunning -- and sexy -- lesbian-themed ad in June 2015.

The inclusive message of the ad, a Chobani spokeperson told The Huffington Post via email, is in line with the company's longtime support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. "As part of our founding mission to make better food for more people, inclusiveness is at the heart of Chobani," the spokesperson added. "We’re proud that our products are enjoyed by all and we celebrate that diversity whenever -- and however -- we can." (credit:Amanda Edwards via Getty Images)
J.C. Penney(12 of21)
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J.C. Penney has shown support for the LGBT community over the years, but that support hasn't come without controversy.

Aside from One Million Mom's infamous boycott of the department store for choosing Ellen DeGeneres as its spokesperson, J.C. Penney also came under fire in June 2012 when its catalog featured two men on the floor playing and hugging their two children at home indicating, according to the American Family Association, that the company made a "departure from its moorings to God's Word and Mr. Penney's leadership by taking sides in the cultural war in celebration of homosexuality." (credit:J.C. Penny)
Sabra Hummus(13 of21)
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Sabra Hummus made an awesome display of support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community by including a real-life gay couple in their advertising campaign in May 2015. (credit:Bob Berg via Getty Images)
Gap(14 of21)
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In March 2015, Gap and Levi's issued a joint statement denouncing an Indiana law which could protect business owners who refuse service to LGBT customers, and a similar bill approved by the Arkansas Senate.

In June 2015 thirteen Gap employees shared their coming out stories in a powerful video for GLAAD's #GotYourBack campaign.

The video was the latest installment in the ongoing GLAAD effort, which aims to encourage allies to speak out in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community throughout Pride Month.Paul Tew of Gap Inc.'s GEAR (Gay Employees, Allies and Resources) said the project was in line with his corporation's belief that "lifting voices out of isolation -- and vocalizing support -- is a critical step in achieving equality." (credit:Gap)
Kohl's(15 of21)
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The department store launched a new ad in November 2015 that featured a same-sex couple.
Part of Kohl's #AllTogetherNow campaign, the ad shows a diverse family preparing a holiday meal together in a bustling kitchen. As they sit down to dinner, a handsome gay couple shares a toast that, from the looks of it, might be celebrating an engagement. (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Adidas(16 of21)
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Three Adidas staples -- the Stan Smith, the Adilette Slide and the Superstar -- got a limited edition makeover as part of the company's "Pride Pack" in 2015.

Each of the designs draws inspiration from the LGBT rainbow flag, "a symbol of equality and inclusiveness that signifies the diversity of the LGBT community," according to press materials.

A portion of the sales was donated to Portland's New Avenues for Youth, an Oregon-based advocacy group focused on homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adolescents and teens. (credit:Adidas)
Tiffany & Co.(17 of21)
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In 2015 Tiffany featured a gay couple for the first time in an ad.

Tiffany rep Linda Buckley told ELLE in a statement that love stories come "in a variety of forms." "The Tiffany engagement ring is the first sentence of the story that a couple will write together as they create a life that is deeply intimate and exceptional." (credit:Tiffany )
Nordstrom(18 of21)
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"It is our belief that our gay and lesbian employees are entitled to the same rights and protections marriage provides under the law as our other employees," Nordstrom officials said in a 2012 statement. "We also believe supporting freedom to marry will help us create a more attractive and inclusive workplace for our current and prospective employees."

The company also released an ad in 2013 called "The Ultimate Wedding Party," which featured pairs of heterosexual and same-sex couples reveling at a large-scale reception. (credit:Mike Blake / Reuters)
Coca Cola(19 of21)
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In June 2015 an ad from the beverage giant depicted what appeared to be a queer family with the phrase "'We choose happiness over tradition.' - the Van Bergen family."

“The Coca-Cola Company values and celebrates diversity," a representative from The Coca-Cola Company told The Huffington Post. "This ad was developed as part of our Choose Happiness campaign, launched in North West Europe in May. The campaign encourages us all to spread happiness, while fostering unity, diversity and respect.”

Coca-Cola previously showed support for the LGBT community through their advertising, including a Superbowl commercial in 2014 that featured two gay dads. (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
Tylenol(20 of21)
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Gay and lesbian couples feature prominently in Tylenol's #HowWeFamily campaign, launched in June 2015, which aims to celebrate the diversity of modern families.

Manoj Raghunandanan, Senior Director of Marketing for Johnson and Johnson's McNeil Consumer Healthcare, told Advertising Age that the ad was representative of his company's commitment to celebrating how "families look and feel different [now] than they did before." (credit:Bernard Bisson via Getty Images)
Hallmark(21 of21)
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As part of an ongoing social media campaign, Hallmark launched a "social experiment" in which participants were asked to talk about their loved ones on camera without using the expressions "I love you" and "thank you.

The 2015 Valentine's Day installment of "Put Your Heart to Paper" featured a same-sex couple and the Mother's Day version of the campaign included Alex, who identifies as transgender, recounting his touching relationship with his mom, Pam, whom he describes as "the strongest, most wonderful person I know." (credit:NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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