June 26, 2014
SD Gay Teen Says Restaurant Gave Him Offensive Nametag
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
An openly gay 16-year-old Yankton boy is accusing a fast food restaurant of forcing him to wear a name tag with a homophobic slur in front of customers.
Tyler Brandt resigned from Taco John's on Tuesday. He says he kept the name tag as evidence, and he and his father are considering suing the restaurant for discrimination.
Restaurant Manager John Scott says Brandt chose the slur himself as a nickname joke, and was not forced to wear the name tag.
Officials with Taco John's International Inc. say they won't investigate the matter because franchise locations are independently owned and operated. But the company says it does not tolerate workplace harassment and that franchisees are required to have anti-discrimination policies.