Allegations of Discrimination: The Case of Anthony Filomena and the Chicago Blackhawks
When Anthony Filomena’s story about being an openly gay PR manager for the Chicago Blackhawks was published on Outsports in April, he saw it as a chance to highlight the team’s LGBTQ outreach and deepen their commitment to the community. However, by the end of that week, Filomena was fired, leading to allegations of homophobia and legal action considerations.
Filomena claims his termination was due to “possible sexual orientation discrimination” following the Outsports article. He has since retained an attorney to explore legal recourse. Conversely, the Blackhawks assert that his firing was unrelated to his sexual orientation, citing insubordination and repeated policy violations as the reasons for his dismissal. They emphasize that Filomena had previously received multiple warnings for not adhering to company policies and procedures.
The Blackhawks provided a detailed statement refuting Filomena’s allegations, stressing their commitment to inclusivity. Ben Fromstein, the team’s communications manager, stated in an email to Outsports that the organization would never fire someone based on their sexual orientation. He highlighted that Filomena had been featured, along with other employees, during the previous year’s Pride Month on the team’s LinkedIn channel. Fromstein described Filomena’s public accusations as insulting to the organization and its LGBTQ+ employees.
Both parties agree that Filomena was fired shortly after the Outsports article was published on April 29. The article highlighted Filomena’s return to sports after leaving due to homophobic comments he encountered in youth hockey, and how the Blackhawks’ Pride Night initiatives had encouraged him to come back.
Filomena recounts that after completing the Outsports interview, he sought organizational approval to publish the article. He discussed the matter with Lyndsey Stroope, the director of marketing and communications, who told him that approval from senior leadership was required. Filomena claims he did not receive a response for several days, and when Stroope went on vacation, he decided to approach Blackhawks chairman Danny Wirtz directly. Filomena aimed to eventually set up an interview with Wirtz to discuss the team’s LGBTQ initiatives more extensively. According to Filomena, Wirtz liked the idea and gave the green light for Outsports to publish the story.
After the story was published, Filomena followed up to arrange an interview with Wirtz. Upon Stroope’s return from vacation, she discovered the published article. Filomena recalls that his colleagues began avoiding him, and later that week, he was called into a meeting with vice president of marketing Jerry Ferguson and HR, where he was informed it was his last day with the Blackhawks.
Filomena has since voiced his grievances on social media and through his attorney, Josh Friedman. Friedman’s letter to the Blackhawks alleges that Filomena’s termination was linked to the Outsports article and suggests possible sexual orientation discrimination. The letter also mentions previous conflicts between Filomena and his supervisors over promotional events.
The Blackhawks, however, maintain that Filomena did not follow the proper procedures for seeking interview approvals and that his dismissal was for cause due to multiple policy violations. They clarify that all employees below the VP level require multiple approvals for public communications, and Filomena’s interview request was pending further discussion upon his manager’s return from vacation. The organization states that Filomena’s text to Wirtz was about a future interview opportunity, not seeking approval for the already completed interview.
The team asserts that Filomena was terminated for insubordination and ongoing violations of company policies, including attendance issues and failure to comply with procedural expectations. They state that Filomena had received several written communications and a final warning before his dismissal, all predating the Outsports media opportunity.
Filomena’s attorney disputes these claims, arguing that Filomena had no assigned hours as a salaried employee and was compliant with work expectations. He also mentions that Filomena raised concerns about a potential NHL policy violation by Ferguson, which could have contributed to the strained relationship with his supervisors.
When presented with the final written warning by HR, Filomena refused to sign it, noting that the details were inaccurate and stating he was expecting a follow-up that never occurred. During his termination meeting, he felt that the reasons given for his dismissal were inconsistent and that the necessary documentation was not prepared.
Filomena alleges that team management criticized him for publishing the Outsports profile without senior leadership’s approval, despite claiming he had Wirtz’s consent. According to Filomena, vice president and general counsel Marcus LeBeouf downplayed Wirtz’s approval, leading to further frustration. Filomena also claims the organization was upset about a reference to the Kyle Beach sexual assault cover-up in the Outsports article, a topic he felt was already public knowledge and relevant to discuss due to his own experiences of sexual assault.
Losing his position with the Blackhawks has been a significant blow for Filomena. He describes the emotional and financial toll of his firing and expresses disillusionment with the organization he once loved. Filomena’s lawyer hints at potential legal action, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations and the impact on Filomena’s career and well-being.
Reflecting on his experience, Filomena feels that his work environment was detrimental and that the events leading to his termination were part of a broader pattern of mistreatment. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to advocating for LGBTQ inclusion in sports and is considering his next steps in seeking justice and accountability for his dismissal.
