A manager at a Massachusetts retail store claims he was unjustly fired after he told a colleague he thought her impending marriage to another woman was wrong.

Peter Vidala, 24, told Foxnews.com he was terminated in August from his position as second deputy manager at a Brookstone store at Boston's Logan Airport after a conversation he had with a manager from another Brookstone store who was visiting the location.

Vidala claims the woman, whom he declined to identify, mentioned four times that she had married her partner. He said he then left the store briefly to visit the airport's chapel before returning.

"I found it offensive that she repeatedly brought it up," Vidala said. "By the fourth time she mentioned it, I felt God wanted me to express how I felt about the matter, so I did. But my tone was downright apologetic. I said, 'Regarding your homosexuality, I think that's bad stuff.'"

The woman, according to Vidala, then said, "Human resources, buddy — keep your opinions to yourself," before exiting the store.

Two days later, Vidala, who had been employed for just a matter of weeks, received a termination letter citing the company's zero-tolerance policy regarding "harassment" and "inappropriate and unprofessional" comments.

"In the state of Massachusetts, same-sex marriage is legal and there will be people with whom you work with who have fiancées or spouses who are the same gender," the Aug. 12 letter read. "... While you are entitled to your own beliefs, imposing them upon others in the workplace is not acceptable and in this case, by telling a colleague that she is deviant and immoral, constitutes discrimination and harassment."

Vidala disputes using the words "deviant" and "immoral" during conversations with human resources employees on the matter.

"I did say I regard that lifestyle as deviant, as in deviating from the norm, but I never, ever said to that to the [manager]," he said. "In general, I believe people don't want to hear about controversial issues like that in the workplace. They shouldn't have to."

Vidala, who has not hired a lawyer, said he is considering filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In a statement issued to FoxNews.com, Brookstone President/CEO Ron Boire said a "thorough and fair investigation" had been completed in the matter.

"We do not comment on any specific personnel issues," the statement read. "However I will say that Brookstone is an equal opportunity employer, meaning that we maintain a healthy, safe and productive work environment free from discrimination or harassment based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, or other factors that are unrelated to the Company’s legitimate business interests.

"We are proud of our diverse workforce of varying cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds."

Asked why he felt the need to comment on the woman's personal life, Vidala, who has since left the Boston area, said he felt compelled to do so.

"I see, like all real Christians, homosexuals as people who, like me, are sinners and need to be told the truth in a loving way," he said. "In this situation, I took issue with the behavior. I think it's lunacy to call that type of behavior marriage in any kind of form. I had to express that I'm intolerant of that behavior. It's a love-the-sinner, hate-the-sin kind of deal."

Vidala said he felt "intentionally goaded" by the manager to comment on her relationship.

"She knew how I felt about homosexuality," he said. "When you talk to someone about something like that, you want their support. She was kind of looking into my eyes for that social cue for me to say, 'I'm happy for you.' But I really couldn't feel happy for her."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,572862,00.html

I think I have mixed feelings about this....on one hand, it sounds like the lesbian manager knew about this guy being a Christian and kept brining up her same-sex "marriage" to get a reaction out of him. On the other hand, I honestly don't think God told this guy to give his opinion on homosexuality to this woman. In any case, I feel that both of them acted unprofessionally, moreso on the woman's part.

Should the guy have been fired for what he said about homosexuality? I don't think he should have lost his job over this, especially since it seems to me that the lesbian manager was the one goading this guy, thereby creating a hostile working environment for him.

This is insane to think a person can get fired for not agreeing to another persons choices. The liberal attitude this country is taking on is INSANE. This guy should fight this tooth and nail. I am praying for a revival across this country like the world has never seen, to humble this country so we can repent and God can heal our land. one last time before the return of Christ, which I feel is so close. earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, disease, starvation, SEXUAL IMORALITY, the push for a global goverment and tons of other signs tells me we are closer than people think. [to the return of christ].

Sign of the times D.

There is no more freedom of speech, only freedom of PC speech.

She was thrusting her beliefs on him but we know it doesn't work both ways.

He was not imposing his beliefs, he was sharing them.

National origin was on that list.

So now I guess if anyone says anything bad about our country, then they are attacking our national origin!

I mean if you have a fellow employee from Latin America, or the Middle East, and you say something about their country of origin (such as "Pakistan stinks"), they can probably complain, but how about if they bad mouth the U.S.A., repeatedly?

Will they be fired for attacking our nation of origin?

Or will they say they were only attacking the Nation, not you, so it is "okay"?

Really?

Well how about if you say, "I didn't say I hate Japanese people, I just said I hate Japan!" Will that work? Probably not.

So all of a sudden attacking their nation becomes a huge job related issue, but not when they attack ours?

Frankly, I think the guy should sue Brookstone. Even though I think he would have been better served brushing off what this woman kept saying about her "marriage", she was creating a hostile working environment for him and the company had no right to fire him for giving his opinion.

Unfortunately, I can definitely see this happening more to us down the line in the work place , i.e. people who know we are Christians will do or say stuff about homosexuality or something negative about our faith to either get a reaction out of us, or to just to create a hostile working environment for us.

I've been in that position before, and there are so many ways to handle it better then he did.

But I think they were both stupid.

I'm always cautious about getting worked up about reports like this in the news. For one, we are always getting a biased view of the events. I'm not saying this isn't exactly the way it happened or that something like this could happen, just that I can't know that is how it happened.

I do agree that PC is running amok. I am all for being sensitive to other people, and I realize that we all need to compromise our freedoms for the sake of others (see Paul), but it does seem to be a one way street for the most part.

Persecution only makes us stronger and stronger. It's coming, folks, but let's rejoice for any suffering we encounter due to the Truth. We can still speak up and vote our beliefs, but if ultimately the country slides down the path of tolerance for sin and debauchery, and if in the process Christians are isolated, ridiculed, persecuted and even imprisoned, we can rejoice that we are suffering for Jesus and there is nothing that makes us more like Him!

Articles like that first make me furious, but then I just feel sorry for the liberals/homosexuals. It's sad, truly.

The misery they must be going through to make them act that way must be terrible. Why else would they act like completely unreasonable people? And I mean with their lifestyles and their reaction to others telling them things; even just little opinions. Their sin and guilt is killing them slowly, and it's a miserable process.

it is common sense in work he should have held his tongue. if it was after work then i would say he was wronged but it is not illigal for lesbianse to marry in some states but its not permitted to say its wrong on company time. its just how things are.

I understand what some of you are saying here, but, c'mon, in this day and age? the guy KNEW better than to say what he said...it's IMPOSSIBLE to NOT realize that there's gonna be repercussions. There's just NO way to utilize a word like "deviant" in the conversation, REGARDLESS of how HE inteded it, without it ending up like this....it's common sense, no matter WHAT your personal stance and feelings on a given situation are...

This story, like the "God pin" article, has a very visible slant and bias towards one end of the story, and doesnt' necessarily paint an accurate picture of the situation. We DON'T know all the details, we DON'T know the entirety of what was said, the tone of voice, or any of the OTHER details pertinent to rendering a judgement, and this article doesnt' bother to even TRY providing a balanced nsight into the matter.

that being said, I HAVE to say in the same situation, I personally would countersue both company AND employee for creating and promoting an environment that lead to HIS harrasment. It's BLATANTLY obvious the guy felt pressured, uncomfortable, and harrased by the woman's behavior....and he's SPOT ON THE POINT with this observation: "In general, I believe people don't want to hear about controversial issues like that in the workplace. They shouldn't have to."

He was offended by her repeatedly bringing up that she was in a gay marrige.

She was offended by his assertion that he personally felt it was wrong.

The Christian was fired. The sinner was not.

Jesus said this would happen.

I'm afraid for my 4 and 5 year olds because when He comes down here.....and it really looks like it could be any day now......they're not going to understand what's going on. I hope my wife and I are with them when it happens.

C'mon people. If the guy believes that homosexuality is wrong, he has the right to express that! I'm tired of this whole, "in this day and age, he should've known better" philosophy. That's like saying that when Christianity is outlawed that we should all just shut up! I mean in that time and age, we'll ALL know better, right?

I understand where you guys are coming from, I just feel that in this particular situation, you're wrong! Not trying to cause an argument, just giving my opinion.