A Philadelphia man has filed a formal complaint alleging that he was fired after complaining about a "pervasive anti-gay" environment at the Toyota dealership where he was employed.

The ex-employee, Patrick Johnston of Philadelphia, said the work environment at Champion, on Castor Avenue near Cottman, was one in which anti-gay slurs were routine and tolerated.

"Salespeople regularly used slurs like 'faggots' and 'fudgepackers' to refer to gay people," said Johnston, who is gay.

"Even gay customers - who were making these people a substantial commission - were called 'fairies' and 'faggots' behind their backs," he said.

The dealership, Champion Toyota, is owned by Sloane Automotive Group had no comment in response to the complaint.

Johnston first complained internally about the pervasive nature of the gay bashing, but was told that it was the nature of the business (365gay.com). 

"It is shocking and disappointing that this type of anti-gay bigotry was so widespread at Sloane Automotive Group,? said Johnson's attorney Katie Eyer, of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights.

"What is particularly disturbing is that Mr. Johnston was terminated when he complained about Sloane?s response.  Retaliatory action of that kind sends a clear message to other employees ? don?t complain if you value your job.  This type of conduct is precisely the type of employer behavior that the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance is designed to prevent."

Toyota received a perfect score on the 2005 HRC Corporate Equality Index.  Here's their response to that ranking:

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Jim Press, President and Chief Operating Officer, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

?Toyota Motor Sales is honored to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign with a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index. Diversity provides Toyota with a competitive advantage; understanding, embracing and leveraging our differences enables us to achieve our business goals. At Toyota, we acknowledge and support the diversity of sexual orientation and gender expression. Toyota recognizes its responsibility to both its employees and customers, and considers Diversity and Inclusion an integral part of every aspect of the business.?

How is this consistent with a pervasive homophobic environment Champion Toyota's management allegedly described?   Sadly for the Correspondents, the parent sales company also owns a Honda dealership.  What's a dyke to drive?

Just goes to show -- we may be a market, but equality is a long way down the road.