A judge in a New York City trial court has ordered Ted Doudak, president of Riva Jewelry Manufacturing in Long Island City, to testify about his religious beliefs in a trial in which an employee alleges that Doudak illegally fired him because he is gay. John Fairchild says that he was fired after he admitted to being gay and after Doudak found out that Fairchild's daughter was a lesbian. Doudak allegedly made numerous derogatory comments about gays and lesbians. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Carol Edmead has ordered Doudak to testify whether he believes homosexuality is a "sin against God," if he believes gays and lesbians face eternal damnation and if he finds homosexuals "repulsive." Doudak's lawyer says that the order violates his client's First Amendment rights. Yesterday's Queens (NY) Times Ledger reports on the case.
UPDATE: The full opinion in Fairchild v. Riva Jewelry Manufacturing Inc., (Sup. Ct. NY County, June 28, 2007) is avaialable online.
