Tommy Bennett has filed more documents in his discrimination complaint against civil-rights and Rainbow PUSH leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
In the initial complaint, filed with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations ( CCHR ), Bennett claimed that he experienced sexual orientation-based discrimination almost immediately after he started the job in 2007, saying that a now-former membership and volunteer coordinator, complained to Jackson that she did not wish to work with Bennett because he is gay.
Bennett also claimed that Jackson cursed at him in front of other staff members and even alleged that Jackson wanted Bennett to perform oral sex on him. ( The latter event allegedly happened after Bennett became Jackson's travel assistant. )
The latest documents Bennett has filed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights include a supplement disclosing a work-environment witness as well as an amended supplemental statement of facts. The witness has been identified as Brian McCoy, an employee of PUSH Excel. According to its website, "PUSH Excel strives to be a world leader in promoting educational excellence and equity in funding and allocation of educational resources so that every child is guaranteed an opportunity to receive a quality education."
According to the witness supplement, Janette Wilson of PUSH Excel allegedly falsely asserted that McCoy was "a pedophile." ( Wilson allegedly discriminates McCoy because he is male. )
That same document claims that "Mr. McCoy's testimony would demonstrate the climate of Rainbow PUSH experienced by Complainant—namely, a hostile work environment filled with various forms of discrimination."
Regarding his updated fact statement, Bennett has included another specific instance of sexual harassment that occurred in Las Vegas in 2008 when Jackson and Bennett allegedly went to meet entertainer Michael Jackson.
Bennett, who currently resides out of state, is seeking at least $98,300 in lost income and benefits and $350,000 for emotional distress and other damages.
The firm representing Jackson and Rainbow PUSH had not responded to a Windy City Times inquiry as of the press deadline.
