It’s Lucrative To Be Lesbian But Keep Your Head Down If You’re Gay
This is the story of Katie Brenny, the former women’s coach at the University of Minnesota who finally won her landmark sexual discrimination case three years after being fired.
Brenny’s employment was terminated by the University after they found out she was a lesbian. The action took three years to resolve but Brenny was finally awarded the maximum of $359,000 by Judge Thomas Sipkins in Minneapolis.
Just two months after starting in the job, Brenny’s “nightmare†started after her boss at the university, John Harris, took offence to the fact she was a lesbian, restricted her to office duties and forbade her from travelling anywhere with the golf team.
Although Harris has since resigned, the university were not welcoming of the the ruling, releasing a statement which said
“With due respect to the court, we are disappointed with the decision and will closely review the findings, conclusions and order, and determine the appropriate next steps.â€
Despite Brenny, members of the University women’s golf team at the time and even tennis legend Billie Jean King all testifying, the university may well still appeal.
Having been the victim of some slippery solicitors during my own University days, I say fair play and congrats to Katie Brenny. But without sounding like a gay rights activist, if this story was about a gay man, and not a lesbian, would the outcome be the same? And would he be believed? I have the feeling there are several other “nightmare†stories out there that will never see the inside of a court.
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