Lucas Monteró worked at a men's clothing store. His contract was terminated because his "image" was deemed "inappropriate" for the company. Today, he is filing a discrimination complaint with the National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (INADI). "You're not what I thought you were. I have to defend the image of the company, the brand, which is for men's clothing." These were the words Lucas Monteró, a 30-year-old from Córdoba, heard on January 6th when he was informed of the termination of his employment contract. After several days of demanding his salary, he had been summoned to the Fabrizzi headquarters (a men's clothing chain with branches throughout Argentina). "I thought it was to pay me, because since I had started working in November, I wasn't yet on a bank account and they were giving me my salary in cash," Lucas told Presentes . But when he arrived at the office, the company manager sent him to speak with the firm's accountant. “He’s the one who makes all the decisions, he seems like the owner. I had only seen him a couple of times because he would occasionally go to the shop to supervise everything. That’s when I realized there was a problem because I had been told that if the accountant calls you, it’s never good news.”

[READ ALSO: “I want it recognized that my dismissal was due to discrimination” ]

The accountant made him wait a while, then sat down at his desk, tapped the table, and announced that he was being let go because he had heard “bad things” about him. When Lucas asked for an explanation and told him that his sales performance was very good—he could confirm this with his supervisors—the accountant brought up the company's image and masculinity. Lucas didn't understand and asked for clarification. The accountant lowered his voice and said, “These aren't things to discuss here. If you want, we can go outside and talk about it man to man.” When he realized what was happening, Lucas felt like the world was crashing down on him. Tears streamed down his face. He had worked in clothing stores for years and had never felt discriminated against because of his sexual orientation. As he was about to leave the office, the accountant asked him to keep working while he waited for the official termination letter so they could find a replacement. “My whole face was swollen because I’d had an infected tooth for days. Since I was still on probation, I didn’t have health insurance, which is why I was so desperate to get paid. All the physical pain and anxiety subsided, and I had to go back to the shop to continue working.”

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When he arrived at the store, Lucas became ill, and a coworker called the manager to request a doctor. The company said they didn't do that and that he should wait until after his shift to go to the hospital.

Take action and make it visible

Lucas continued going to work until he received the official letter and, fearing he wouldn't get paid, waited a few days before making his situation public and filing a complaint with INADI in Córdoba. When Lucas did his statement on social mediaHer post went viral, and the Cordoba-based LGBTI organization took notice. Becoming Diverse They contacted him to offer support throughout the process. Lucas wants to take legal action against the company.

"If you can prove that the dismissal was due to discrimination, the penalty is very serious."

“Unfortunately, these are very difficult cases to prove. Companies protect themselves and never make explicit comments. Because if you manage to prove that the dismissal was due to discrimination, the penalty is extremely severe. The accountant's point about models of masculinity is very strong,” he told Presents Juan Cruz Sanz, a labor lawyer and member of Devenir Diverse, says that for Lucas, the battle has only just begun, and he wants to raise awareness of his case, which is not an isolated incident. Together with Devenir Diverse, they are planning a kiss-in protest in front of the Fabrizzi store.

Cordoba: 29% associate homosexuality with illness

According to the latest Inadi's discrimination map, 29% of those surveyed in Córdoba fully or partially agree with a discriminatory statement that associates homosexuality with an illness. This percentage is higher than the national average and increases as the level of education decreases. “I’m doing better now, and luckily I had the support of my colleagues, who were very kind. But I was very depressed. It had been very difficult for me to get that job, and I had never felt like that, so degraded simply for being who I am,” said Lucas. Follow Presentes: Twitter @PresentesTLGBI Instagram: PresentesTLGBI Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/presentesTLGBI/]]>