Ford, like most American car companies, is known for being pretty progressive. It's so progressive, in fact, that it was rated one of the best places to work in 2015 by the Human Rights Campaign. And working in such a place got one guy so upset, he vomited out a disgusting, hate-filled rant for which he was allegedly fired. And now he's suing.
Of course, Thomas Banks says he was fired from both Ford and Ford subcontractor Rapid Global Business Solutions, Inc. (RGBSI) for his Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs. Those Beliefs being, apparently, his right to be a total jerk on the Internet. Or, as he smarmily and degenerately terms it, "Christianity." But the backstory to Banks' complaint actually reads like a beautiful, evidence-filled novel about why he should have been fired more than anything else.
Here's what Banks alleges in the lawsuit happened. Ford published an article "pertaining to certain policies" – Banks doesn't say where this article was published, nor what was actually in it – which Banks believed conflicted with his religious beliefs. Upon reading the article, he had the sudden and intractable urge to publish a disgusting, bigoted diatribe below it, or, as he termed it in the suit, "a comment outlining the conflict with [his] sincerely held religious beliefs."
At this point, you're probably wondering what sort of putrid diatribe then bubbled forth from the frothing bowels of his keyboard. And since such bigotry should only be exposed to daylight, here's his "comment":
"For this Ford Motor should be thoroughly ashamed. Endorsing and promoting sodomy is of benefit to no one. This topic is disruptive to the workplace and is an assault on Christians and morality, as well as antithetical to our design and survival. Immoral sexual conduct should not be a topic for an automotive manufacturer to endorse or promote. And yes – this is historic – but not in a good way. Never in the history of mankind has a culture survived that promotes sodomy. Heterosexual behavior creates life – homosexual behavior leads to death."
Well then. On the one hand, Ford's got some article outlining corporate policy on an important social matter, and on the other, "homosexual behavior leads to death." So, there's that.
Banks was promptly fired by both Ford and RGBSI for violating their harassment policies. But Banks alleges that RGBSI's harassment policy against those of a differing sexual orientation applies only in the state of New York, despite the company's explicit blanket policy against "conduct or comments which reflect negatively upon or disparage any protected group" being presented right to him in his own termination notice.
But whatever, that hasn't stopped Banks from marching in his own insufferable crusade, because he lived and worked in Michigan, where he thinks the rules don't apply to him and oh also, he's suing because Ford and RGBSI fired him for notifying them that their policies discriminate against him and his religion.
Never does he say, however, how Ford's LGBT-friendly policies actively discriminated or prevented the free exercise of his own religion, besides saying he can't be a jerk about it on the Internet.
The entire annoying lawsuit is below for your perusal, if you feel a further need to hate the world today:
Ford, for what it's worth, is kind of passing the hot potato into the lap of RGBSI, their contractor, for now, issuing this statement:
"We have not yet seen the complaint, however, we believe this matter ultimately is between the individual and their agency employer. Ford's anti-harassment policy was created to foster a respectful, inclusive work environment for all, and we expect employees and agency personnel to act in accordance with this policy."
We've contacted RGBSI for comment as well, and will update when we hear back.
So yeah, here's wishing you all the best in the world and sunshine and kittens in your lawsuit, Banks.
May you lose, and lose hilariously.
H/t to WXYZ!
Photo credit: Getty Images