Former Gay Staffer Files Sexual Harassment Complaint Against Rev Jesse Jackson, PUSH

A former employee at Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition has sued the Chicago-based organization and the veteran civil rights activist in a far-reaching suit alleging anti-gay discrimination and harassment, reports the Windy City Times.

In a document filled with stunning allegations, Tommy R. Bennett has filed a complaint with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations against the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., and the minister's Chicago-based organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, claiming, among other things, harassment and termination on the basis of Bennett's sexual orientation.

Bennett claims that he experienced discrimination almost immediately after he started the job, saying that Caroline Wiggins, the membership and volunteer coordinator, complained to Jackson that she did not wish to work with Bennett because he is gay. ... Bennett claims that at an all-staff meeting in 2008, he requested an LGBT-themed table for the national convention—and was flatly denied. When Bennett questioned why there could not be a table, Jackson allegedly "cursed at Mr. Bennett in front of all of the staff, and Rev. Jackson was visibly upset during the rest of the meeting."

Bennett was eventually demoted from national director of community affairs and became Rev. Jackson's travel assistant. The charges are quite graphic:

Bennett also claims that he had to escort women to Jackson's room and "clean up his room after sexual intercourse with women. Mr. Bennett believes he was forced to do these tasks due to his sexual orientation."

Things reached an apex later in 2008, when Bennett says he "was summoned to Rev. Jackson's hotel room" at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport Hotel. Bennett claims that he was eventually instructed to apply cream to Jackson, who "had a rash between his legs." Bennett says that he refused, resulting in Jackson allegedly calling Bennett a "little motherfucker."

Bennett then states that another time at the same hotel, Jackson summoned him at 1 a.m. to take notes. The complaint states, "When Mr. Bennett arrived, Rev. Jackson was dressed only in his briefs and a v-neck t-shirt." Bennett alleges Jackson was sexually excited.

Bennett relates an anecdote where he says the reverend demanded oral sex:

"Rev. Jackson stated that he played football and there was a gay high school teacher who took Rev. Jackson under his wings and told him that he needed education to go along with football. Rev. Jackson said, '[F]rom that gay teacher, I got a good grade, I got to use his car, I got ten dollars and I got my dick sucked.' Rev. Jackson said, '[T]hat's not gay, that is surviving.'" Bennett alleges this meant Rev. Jackson wanted sex, but that Bennett then left the room.

Bennett is a member of President Obama's LGBT leadership council. Bennett is seeking $98,300 for back pay, $350,000 for emotional distress and punitive damages "and an amendment of Rainbow PUSH's non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity."

In a statement to the Chicago Sun Times, a PUSH spokeswoman denied Tommy Bennett’s allegations.

Rev Jackson has a long record of support for LGBT rights, dating back to his presidential bids in the 1980s. This is believed to be the first time he has been accused of harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Read more at Windy City Times ...

Comments

[Dré]

It's good to see U R back on your grind Ron...nothing surprises me about preachers/reverands/bishops, etc. these days

[Greg G]

Hooray! Rod returns!

Child...you won't even believe the race riot in the comments at Towleroad and Queerty over Jesse Jackson and Kobe Bryant.

Nope. You would. Shameful.

So what do we think about the good reverend ... ?

[Troy]

Sounds like a good Tyler Perry movie just simmering to happen. ANYBODY dumb enough to work for ole crazy Jesse...Some jobs, despite the money just aint worth it.
And to actually sue JacksonLOL?! Him and that 'organization' broke as hell, duhh..

[Jim J]

Welcome back Rod! We'll see how this story plays out.

[Tristan]

I have been in R20 withdrawal all week! Welcome back Rod.

We'll see how this case pans out. I really don't have an opinion but I wouldnt be surprised at the allegations, it seems like a power trip.

Why this man would willingly settle for packing suitcases after being PUSH's national field director ... that is worth asking.

[Chitown Kev]

@Greg G

Please, let me not get started on Kobe Bryant...thing is I DETEST Kobe "I can buy my wife off with a $4 MILLION diamond ring" Bryant (child, when that hapened there were some sistas in my office that were HATIN...but I digress)...but I am so sick of these white queens...

Anyway, I don't know what to think of this drama

[Chitown Kev]

goodness, my manners...

Wewlcome back, Rod...honey, you ain't really missed nothin'...samo, samo.

[Derrick from Philly]

I simply believe my beloved Reverend Jackson would torment this poor child...just to get a blow job.

But then again, TRADE is selfish...always have been.

[Derrick from Philly]

Of course, I meant to say that I simply CAN'T believe my Reverend would do this.

I wonder how far up the Reverend's legs the child was supposed to rub the cream. Well, good thing he stuck to his guns or else there would have been cream shooting out all over the place. Then the child would have had to clean up another hotel room.

Clean up this mess! Oooo, I'd have been evil too.

[Distant Lover]

Don't nothin' surprise me coming from ole Messy Jesse! First he's cutting off the President's balls to having his aide clean up his love juices to smearing him with ointment to clear up his herpes to asking for a BJ. Ole Messy Jesse, as regards drama, he's the gift that keeps on giving!

[GOM]

That picture....Ms. World....PUHLEEZE!!!

[Honut Sinti]

First, Rod, welcome back.

Next, as I read each para, my "OMGs" reached a higher and higher pitch and key until I could give Ms. Leontyne a run for her money. LOL!

Sign me "Too Through".

[Diva1961]

I wouldn't put it pass Jackson. He has indeed been caught "with his pants down" quite a bit over the last few years. That type of behavior doesn't start suddenly. But age can make you messy and forgetful with regard to making sure "your wig is on straight".

I think he did it. If he didn't I will apologize, but he was and is still living by the old southern baptist rules: He on the most high, is sometimes the most low. And if you keep it in the congregation, you are supposely safe.

Those rules are changing and the queens and others are no longer being shamed into silence.

[Osiris]

O_O!!!!!! Did I just read what I thought I did?

Damn, Rod...back from a break with guns blazing, fully loaded.

[worst_1_yet]

Yeah, that picture is whack, but I will cut Jesse some slack until they get to court/settle (one saying more than the other).

As your crew concurs, glad to see your posts!

[Nathan James]

Good to see you back, Rod! Now, about this craziness from the Ministry of Hot Messes...SMH!!!

[LP]

Tommy is a good man. If he is suing there is something to it. I met Rev. Jackson at a convention he promotes to supposedly give people jobs. Unfortunately I was not impressed. It looked like a way to squeeze money out of corporations but not for the disenfranchised but rather for personal gain. I hope Tommy wins. At least he had the courage to try.

[dfs]

I can't.....

[Jim]

While it’s true that Jesse has supported gay civil rights since the 1980s, it was always plain to me that he was supportive because it would bring him votes, not because his heart was in it. Mind you, that’s better than our current president, who is still “evolving” because he is afraid that being supportive of gay people will drive away votes. But still, I would really prefer someone who just naturally believes in justice.

Jesse has always been an opportunist. In the 1980s, he was the best man running for president, and I voted for him twice, but he was never very authentic. And I’ve met quite a few people who have worked with him personally, and they all say this, too.

I have no idea if the charges are true, but it wouldn’t shock me—just sadden me—if they were.

[SLB]

What Jim said. Oh, and I also agree with LP. Tommy's a good dude and would not be doing this if he felt there was another way. I believe him.

[Chitown Kev]

@Derrick From Philly

Miss Thing, you was right the first time and you know it!

I loves y'all cause y'all are just too many THANGS with the reads and shades and things of that nature. The story is certainly worth it and I still want to know the real TEAS.

[aaronthemoor]

i was with the brother filing this suit until it came to giving the good reverend some head. if jesse jackson isn't worthy of getting some good head, then who is? although i did enjoy the anecdote about the strapping football playing pre-reverend jackson being up for some trade. that's the kind of story that you couldn't make up no matter how many drinks you've guzzled. i will always keep the reverend's words close to my crotch...***that's not gay. that's surviving.***

[Dalton]

SMH @ Aaron

We're talking about the status of LGBTs in the black community and at PUSH, hon. Not about fantasies about the "strapping football playing pre-reverend jackson".

Yet another reason why our issues are never seriously treated in the larger black community. We cant even treat them seriously ourselves.

And I totally cosign Derrick, Diva and Jim. And welcome back Rod!

[aaronthemoor]

okay, seriously, how does someone assign a nominal fee of $350,000 to their suffering after they've claimed to be dismissed, disrespected and debased as a human being?

i don't claim to know this bennett person, but i do know that it's counter-intuitive that a gay man would want to continue to work in a sexually hostile environment where they were supposedly maltreated because of their sexuality.

what's stopping bennett from taking his backpay and $350,000 pieces of silver and creating his own organization where black gay men never hear stories about straight guys who got blow jobs from their college professors and where they don't have to phone the hotel maid to come and clean up after their employers?

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=39507466]

Is anyone else just a little shocked that Rainbow PUSH's non-discrimination policy doesn't already include sexual orientation and gender identity??!