By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A Toronto sports announcer who was terminated from his job after tweeting his support for traditional marriage is now suing his former employer for violating his right to freedom of speech and religion.
The Toronto Sun is reporting that Damian Goddard, a freelance announcer for Rogers Sportsnet, has now filed a complaint against the company for firing him after he weighed in on a same-sex marriage debate involving National Hockey League player Sean Avery. Avery expressed his support for same-sex marriage in a video that was put together by New Yorkers for Marriage Equality, which is organized by the Human Rights Campaign, a gay-activist organization.
In response to Avery’s appearance in the video, Todd Reynolds, a player agent who works for Uptown Sports tweeted: “Very sad to read Sean Avery’s misguided support of same-gender ‘marriage.’ Legal or not, it will always be wrong.”
Goddard, a Roman Catholic, then chimed in with his own tweet, saying: “I completely and whole-heartedly support Todd Reynolds and his support for the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage.” The tweet was sent via his personal Twitter account.
Within 24 hours, Goddard was fired.
In defense of their actions, Sportsnet spokesman Dave Rashford claims they terminated him for other reasons: “Mr. Goddard was a freelance contractor and in recent weeks it had become clear that he is not the right fit for our organization.”
Goddard, who has worked as a TV sports broadcaster in Canada for the past 15 years, decided to sue. He is now being represented by William Gale, of the law firm Grosman, Grosman & Gale, who called Goddard’s termination a “violation of Damian’s freedom of speech and his freedom of religion — two fundamental rights that are supposed to be afforded to every Canadian.”
Gale said Rogers “cemented the impression that (Goddard’s) Catholic beliefs are inappropriate and grounds for dismissal. We also contend that unless it is challenged, this ‘termination after a tweet’ threatens to set a dangerous precedent for all Canadians in this still-evolving world of social media.”
Goddard agrees. “My message to the millions of Canadians participating in social media is that ‘this can happen to you’.”
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