Dr. Laird applied for a job in 2008 with Rainier Anesthesia Associates, which serves Good Samaritan Hospital in Pullayup. According to Dr. Laird, he was “highly qualified” for the position and was told by a Rainier Anesthesia administrator that he would be a good fit.
He alleges that during the interview, the administrator asked a series of illegal questions concerning the physician’s marriage status and family. The administrator also allegedly asked if Dr. Laird’s “wife” worked, forcing the physician to disclose that he was gay and in a long-term same-sex relationship.
According to the report, Dr. Laird alleges that after he disclosed his sexuality and relationship status, the tone of the interview changed abruptly. The complaint alleges that the administrator began repeatedly emphasizing that Rainier Anesthesia is a “family-oriented” facility, a term Dr. Laird believes is code for “anti-gay” or “homosexual-free.”
The complaint said Dr. Laird has suffered lost wages and emotional distress as a result. State law bars employers from refusing to hire someone because of sexual orientation, and interviewers may not question candidates about a spouse, spouse’s employment or marital status.
Read the Seattle Post-Intelligencer report on Dan Laird.
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