Fired Gay Music Director Sues Chicago Archdiocese for Discrimination

Following an EEOC complaint filed last year (see prior posting), the former music director of a suburban Chicago Catholic parish has now filed an employment discrimination suit in federal district court against the parish and the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Chicago Tribune reported yesterday on the lawsuit by Colin Collette against the Holy Family Catholic Community in Inverness and the Archdiocese, alleging violations of the federal Civil Rights Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance.  Collette was fired last July after he announced that he was engaged to be married to his longtime partner Will Nifong.  Collette says church leaders knew he was gay long before he posted his engagement notice on Facebook, and his subsequent marriage to his partner.  Collette is seeking damages, back pay and reinstatement.