Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. is one of America’s largest furniture manufacturing company headquartered in Arcadia, Wisconsin. Ashley Furniture manufactures and distributes home furniture products throughout the world and has over 400 stores in the United States and Canada.

Ashley Furniture is also very “Christian” and very very anti-gay.

Isabel Perez is suing the Ashley Furniture HomeStore of Secaucus, N.J., Ashley CEO Eugene Chrinian and Ashley’s director of people services and development Kathy Martin, in Federal Court because she she was fired for being a lesbian.

On October 5, 2012, Martin and and Isabella were walking in the parking lot and approached Isabella’s car when Martin asked her about an HRC decal that she had on her car. Isabella explained to Martin that the decal was an ‘equality symbol.‘ Martin then asked Isabella if it was for ‘the gays’ and then told her that she was not sure that she made the right decision about hiring her because she did not fit the ‘culture’ at the company. Martin then explained that she was going to ‘speak to God’ about it and wheather Isabella should continue her employment with Ashley Furniture.

The next day Isabella was called into a meeting with Martin and Alfred Nunez (sales manager) where Martin told Isabella that she had prayed about it and that God had spoken to her and told her that she needed to let Isabella go. Martin told her: ‘You just don’t fit our culture. … I need someone in your position that can embody our mission statement. Your beliefs just don’t fit them”‘ although Martin stressed that Isabella was very competent at her job and stated that ‘We all know you are very capable and can easily manage the entire department.'”

Ashley Furniture as it turns out is a “Christian” company and also publically supports the anti-gay organiztion FamilyLife whose mission “is committed to helping people know and apply the biblical blueprints for maintaining a God-honoring marriage” while promoting discrimination against homosexuals. Family Life founder and CEO Dennis Rainey has written numerous books and articles warning about the ‘radical homosexual element in our culture.'”

Ashley Furniture has also donated heavily to anti-gay Republican politcial candidates including four-term former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI) who believs that its acceptable to fire people becuase they are gay and also failed Presidential candidtae Mitt Romney.

Isabella Perez seeks punitive damages for retaliation and discrimination, declaratory judgment that Ashley’s policy is illegal, and an injunction to stop it.

Via: Courthouse News