EEOC Settles Homophobic Slurs Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission settled a lawsuit in which the EEOC claimed that El Tio Tex-Mex Grill had subjected an employee to offensive and inappropriate homophobic slurs and taunts regarding his sexual orientation.  The lawsuit further alleged that these comments were also directed at one of the server’s friends, a busser who was straight, because of their friendship.  The busser and server reported the harassment to their managers on multiple occasions, but the company took no action to stop the harassment, which allowed it to continue.  The alleged conduct is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex discrimination and sexual harassment.  See EEOC v. Mejia Corp., No. 1:18-cv-01226 (E.D. Va.).