Gay-Bashing Charges Spur Another Day In Court For Helmsley

NEW YORK— A $40-million lawsuit brought against hotel/real-estate owner Leona Helmsley by a former employee at one of her hotels got under way yesterday with ex-general manager of the Park Lane Hotel Charles Bell testifying he was verbally and physically abused— and ultimately fired— because he is gay. In remarks before the State Supreme Court, Bell said Helmsley verbally abused him in February 2001 after learning of his homosexuality and, about a month later, fired him from his Manhattan hotel post. Published reports maintain Bell was also slapped twice during his four-month stint at the Central Park West property. Helmsley and her lawyer, Steven Eckhause, denied Bell’s charges, with Helmsley being cited as saying: “I do not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, and I did not discriminate against Mr. Bell.” Instead, it was reported Helmsley and her lawyer said Bell was terminated because he lied on his resume about his work experience, misused the power of his position, and held a party on the premises that got out of hand. Bell, who is suing Helmsley and two of her companies, is listed as one of three gay men who have filed bias suits against Helmsley. Patrick Ward, Helmsley’s former COO and reputed to be a one-time paramour of hers, settled out of court with Helmsley in 2001 after accusing her of firing him when she discovered he was gay. Ward was identified as the person responsible for hiring Bell. SOURCE: The New York Times