Openly gay boat captain Larry Jacobson, who was employed by the America's Cup from June to September of last year, is suing the Cup's organizers for discriminatory treatment and wrongful termination. Jacobson, who worked as a VIP spectator boat captain, claims that he was called a "poof" by at least one of the higher-ups at the Cup ("poof" is British/Kiwi for "fag"), and that he was ultimately terminated "without legal cause or justification."
The complaint mentions the names of Andy Hindley, chief operating officer for America's Cup Race Management; and Harold Bennett, the Cup's director of on-water operations.
As the Bay Area Reporter reports:
Jacobson claims that in August, he approached Hindley to request that he be considered for doing break down work once the regatta was over.Hindley "made a 'limp wrist' gesture" and said, "People like you, don't want work like that," Jacobson claims, and he didn't get the job.
Then, at a party in September, Bennett told friends, "That's our poof," referring to Jacobson, according to the complaint. Bennett lives primarily in New Zealand, where "poof" is a derogatory term for gay men.
Jacobson was apparently very open about his sexuality, and circulated copies of a book he wrote about sailing around the world with his same-sex partner. And his direct supervisor tells the B.A.R., "Mr. Jacobson pushed his sexuality very hard and was inappropriate and embarrassed many people on many occasions which people let go, so he is far from innocent in this matter."
It sounds like maybe he has a case?
