A former Starbucks manager is fighting back against what he claims is reverse discrimination after being targeted for his heterosexuality by LGBTQ+ coworkers, leading to his termination and a groundbreaking lawsuit that could change workplace culture wars.
At a Glance
- Christopher Thevanesan, a former Starbucks manager, is suing the company for discrimination based on his heterosexuality
- Thevanesan claims LGBTQ+ coworkers created a hostile work environment because he is a “heterosexual, gender typical man”
- The lawsuit seeks damages under New York State’s Human Rights Law for discrimination, retaliation, and emotional distress
- His attorney claims Starbucks management was “indifferent to his complaints” about workplace harassment
- Thevanesan was fired in February 2022 for allegedly pretextual reasons after complaining about the treatment
Straight Man Claims Discrimination at Progressive Coffee Chain
The liberal corporate culture at Starbucks is under fire as a former manager takes the coffee giant to court for what many conservatives have long suspected happens behind the scenes at progressive companies. Christopher Thevanesan, who managed a Starbucks location in Rochester, New York, has filed a lawsuit alleging he was discriminated against and ultimately fired simply for being a heterosexual man who doesn’t conform to LGBTQ+ ideologies.
The legal action, filed under New York State’s Human Rights Law, claims Thevanesan faced ongoing harassment from LGBTQ+ coworkers who created a hostile work environment targeting him for his traditional gender identity and sexual orientation. This case represents a growing trend of what many are calling “reverse discrimination” where straight employees face backlash in increasingly progressive corporate environments.
Management Ignored Harassment Complaints
According to the lawsuit, Thevanesan began managing the Starbucks location in 2014, where most staff were members of the LGBTQ+ community. Instead of fostering an inclusive environment for all employees regardless of orientation, the complaint alleges that Thevanesan’s heterosexuality was “weaponized” against him by coworkers, creating a toxic workplace.
“Management was indifferent to his complaints,” Thevanesan’s attorney Neil Flynn said.
Even more disturbing, the lawsuit claims that after Thevanesan reported the harassment to higher management, Starbucks not only failed to address the discrimination but ultimately terminated him in February 2022 using vague and inconsistent justifications. This pattern of behavior suggests potential retaliation against an employee who simply wanted fair treatment regardless of his sexual orientation.
Conflicting Termination Reasons Raise Red Flags
The lawsuit outlines how Starbucks allegedly manufactured reasons to fire Thevanesan after he complained about the discriminatory treatment. Rather than addressing the hostile work environment created by his LGBTQ+ coworkers, the company appears to have sided with those engaging in the harassment and sought ways to remove the victim instead.
The ordeal has reportedly “took a toll” on Thevanesan, according to his attorney. The lawsuit seeks compensatory, liquidated, punitive, and statutory damages from both Starbucks and five former coworkers who allegedly participated in the discrimination. The case bears similarities to another reverse discrimination lawsuit filed by Marlean Ames, who claimed she was denied a promotion due to being heterosexual.
Surely big companies like Starbucks will now begin rethinking their insane “diversity” policies? Right?
