HispanicBusiness

For two decades, Charles Perez has been one of television's most high-profile Hispanic journalists. In the 1990s he hosted a nationally syndicated talk show in his own name. He has been the face of television news in large Hispanic markets, such as Los Angeles, New York and Miami.

Mr. Perez has built a career explaining the news stories of the day and chronicling the lives of public figures, but now he's telling a different, more personal story: His own.

Perez is locked in a high-profile public dispute with WPLG-ABC, the South Florida station where he worked up until this summer. In a situation that has drawn national media attention, the station terminated Perez in August. Executives claim it was because of budget cuts.

Mr. Perez, however, alleges the termination was for a different reason. He is openly gay.

"I don't think, as individuals, these (executives) are anti-gay or homophobic," Mr. Perez told HispanicBusiness.com. "But I think it's one thing to be a gay reporter, or a gay producer, and it's another thing to be the face that they sell advertising on. I think that made them uncomfortable."

The station says the decision was based on the state of the economy. There was no discrimination, station officials say, noting that Mr. Perez's boss, in fact, is openly gay.

In an interview with HispanicBusiness.com, Mr. Perez states that WPLG-ABC fired him because executives there were uncomfortable with a high-profile legal dispute pitting himself against an ex-boyfriend against whom Mr. Perez has alleged domestic abuse.

The situation has been simmering for a while, but really started to boil over in March.
Because Mr. Perez was the nightly co-anchor of the Miami area's top-rated news station, the feud was a dishy scoop for bloggers and local newspaper columnists.

Not long after the buzz hit the press, Mr. Perez says his bosses told him he was "too soft."

In late July, WPLG demoted him to a weekend slot from the main weekday news show. Mr. Perez filed a discrimination complaint against the company with the Miami-Dade County Equal Opportunity Board.

The legal wrangling has not stopped Mr. Perez from publicly speaking out against the company. The station too is firing back.

Mr. Perez alleges that the news director criticized him on March 19, 2009, for smiling too much on the air, and for behaving "like girlfriends" with co-anchor Laurie Jennings, according to the discrimination complaint he filed with Miami-Dade County.
Mr. Perez also says station the news director advised him against having kids or getting married, according to the complaint.

In a public statement issued by the station, News Director Bill Pohovey denies Mr. Perez's claims.

"In my view, Mr. Perez continued to make false and outrageous accusations in an effort to force the station to give him back his former work schedule," Mr. Pohovey said in the statement. "Like all businesses, we do not respond to intimidation and threats from employees. His false claims should offend all people – including those of us in the gay community."

The statement also said Mr. Perez's sexual orientation was known at the time of his hiring.

"The Station will bring the facts out in the appropriate legal forum and fully expects to be completely vindicated," the press release says.

Mr. Perez said he has been doing a lot of writing since his termination, and has "been talked to" about publishing a book. Mr. Perez has concerns about whether he will be able to rebuild his career.

Pueng Vongs, the diversity chair for the Society of Professional Journalists, said Mr. Perez has not committed professional suicide solely by virtue of speaking out against a former employer.

"The reporter's role is to kind of give a voice to the voiceless, even if that means their own," she told HispanicBusiness.com. "I know there are numerous examples of high-profile journalists who may not have gotten along with a former employer, but found gainful employment elsewhere.... I don't think that should stand in the way of his pursuing a job of equal stature in the future."