WPLG’s Charles Perez has filed a discrimination complaint with the Miami-Dade Equal Opportunity board, Miami Herald is reporting
In the complaint Perez alleges that his demotion two weeks ago from main weekday co-anchor to a weekend anchor and weekday reporter, had little to do with what the station said was a money-saving decision. Instead, Perez claims, his demotion stemmed from the attention his sexual orientation has received in recent months due to the public break up with his former partner.
In a statement, WPLG categorically denies Perez’s claim he was discriminated for being gay or that his public break up had anything to do with their decision to move Perez to weekend anchor duties. Even pointing out the Sunday 11pm newscast is highly rated.
Copies of the complaint Charles Perez filed and WPLG’s response after the jump
/hat tip to all the tipsters who left us messages/
Charles Perez’s complaint [pdf]
WPLG’s statement [doc]
I have just read some postings as to Michael Smith being gay; the Herald article quotes WPLG News Director as being gay himself. What is it with all the homophobia? I still say the biggest threat tolocal media is not sexual preference, but the innate inability of so many of these people to piece together a coherent English sentence. WPLG does have a long, indistinguished history of EEOC complaints, going back to Art Carlson’s days. I thought Charles was fine teamed with Laurie–not my cup of tea, but better than lots of other anchor teams working today. SO can we stick to evaluating the journalistic product and leave the anti-gay snarking out of it? Who cares if you saw someone with their boyfriend on South Beach? Gay or straight it DOES NOT MATTER!!
Clarification: the reference to these people is aimed at local media in general, not any one group–except of course for WSVN!
Of course, you do know that WSVN is the only station in the USA whose main anchors are both gay.
had no idea Belkys was gay.
They both are.
I did not know this. I won’t ask about your methodology of surveying all the stations’ main anchor teams in the country to see how many of them are gay ;-).
WSVN does not and cannot promote that fact, but I was under the impression that everyone in the industry kinda does know that WSVN is the only station the country with a duel gay main anchor team.
What a dork!
What a great way to rock the boat with your employer during this trying time with our economy where it may be very difficult for him to find another job.
He’s lucky to have a job, he should just stop b*tchin!
Chuck….You of all people mentioned Art Carlson, he was one of my favorite people who really got screwed over.
its a pretty convincing comlaint by Charles. Seems like it wasn’t a choice comletely by Bill Pahovey but the bigger suits in the network. The financial excuse doesn’t fly when looking at other decisions done by WPLG.
Charles doesnt seem to like Calvin too much, and what is the situation Charles alluded to about Trent Aric? He also put Rob Scmitt out there and didn’t put Laurie in the best light with the statements by Bill.
can someone tell me why this guy is still employed? how do you bash your boss, you fellow employees and the company you work for like this? charles, i don’t know who told you that you are a good anchor, but they lied. weekend anchor, maybe? main guy, no way. pahovey never should have made him number 1. with all the talent out there, charles perez is what you picked? blows my mind
The fact that the news director is gay and he has shared inside information and made it public is going to end his career.
Since when is being gay a career ender?
Take a look at Channel 7, many people (including some on air ones) are gay and the station is one of the most successful in the nation.
Being gay, per se, is not a career ender. but having the alleged internal personnel issues and comments aired in public is a corporate no-no. IF it is true, it won’t help further his career in management.
It sounds like both parties have handled this poorly for it to get to this point. It’s a lose-lose situation for both, with all this dirty laundry being aired in public.
Gotta agree with you. But the complaint is not far fetched. Maybe he is hoping to become a gay figure and will be praised for fighting the system? I don’t know what he’s thinking but things look bleak.
Become a gay figure? Charles was the Norman’s boyfriend on the first Real World. He had his own talk show, The Charles Perez Show and was the host for American Journal. He also anchored in NYC for years. He deserved the position. He and Laurie got along very well. Its terrible that an ex would manipulate an email and send it to everyone on his list… I was a recipient and it was outrageous. But the execs got it and the ball started rolling. He is very professional on TV. And as a gay person, I can tell you that you can be discriminated by another gay person, but it really came from the boss’ boss. He should stand up to them. He earned the position… they heavily ran commercials touting him and Laurie and the great relationship they have and then used it against him. As for financial reasons, if they still have to pay him, tell me, where are they saving?
Justonestation, you sound pathethic yourself. Why do people bash other people when they don’t know them? I don’t get it. Your views do not matter, obviously and you dont know whats good and bad? Are u the ND at 10? No, so who are u to judge? Unless your bitter, which half the time seems the case on this site.
He came to WABC for a reason, NUMBER ONE STATION IN THE NUMBER ONE MARKET, sure he left but do you know the extent? No.
So he was promoted to the main spot for a reason.
Isn’t this the same Charles Perez that had a talk show in the Eighties back when they had the Richard Beys and the Jenny Joneses? There was also a Charles Perez that did a high energy disco record in the 80’s. Same person? Looks like him, he came out on his show if I remember correctly…