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Former Minnesota TV Meteorologist Files Lawsuit Claiming Network Fired Him For Being Gay
Last year, Sven Sundgaard, of Minneapolis, was fired from his job as meteorologist for Kare 11 after he called out anti-lockdown protestors on social media, but a recent lawsuit says that's not why Sundgaard was fired at all.
Sundgaard has been facing abuses as far back as 2007, according to his lawsuit, when he made the cover of Lavender, a LGBTQ+ magazine in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. And Sundgaard, who is gay, has filed a lawsuit alleging a homophobic environment that ultimately resulted in the loss of his job.
Sundgaard was fired after retweeting a comment by Rabbi Michael Adam Latz.
Rabbi Latz called anti-lockdown and anti-mask protestors who carried their guns "white nationalist Nazi sympathizer gun fetishist miscreants."
At the time, heavily armed known White nationalist and White supremacist groups were storming the Minnesota state capitol in protest of pandemic protocols.
After filing the suit, Sundgaard said he'd been completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
"I hope to continue to receive your support as I embark upon this difficult journey that will highlight the unfair treatment to which I was subjected."
"While a lawsuit is not ideal for anyone, I believe it is important to take action to prevent what happened to me from happening to others."
"I do this also, for the countless young people who have thanked me for being an openly gay man, making it easier for them to be true to themselves."
"My late mom always taught me to stick up for myself."
Kare 11 denies the allegations of homophobia.
A spokesperson for the station said in a statement:
"One of our core values as a station is inclusion."
"We are committed to maintaining a respectful workplace free from all forms of discrimination and harassment."
Sundgaard's lawsuit is for over $300,000, which is back pay from his firing and punitive damages.