As far as hateful speech goes, it wasn’t a reference that jumped out immediately as being anti-gay—not even to members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Practice Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. But allegations that Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts called one of his officers “SpongeBob SquarePants” and made other anti-gay remarks were enough to convince a judge that the plaintiff’s case of discrimination based on sexual orientation should go to a jury.
Hartford police Lt. Brian Foley, an 18-year veteran of the force who was a sergeant at the time the state lawsuit was filed in 2010, identifies himself in his complaint as heterosexual. Despite that stated orientation and his testimony that he is “happily married to a woman,” Foley has accused Roberts and Assistant Chief Lester McCloy of making constant harassing remarks, which he characterized as “hostile and homophonic.”
