Former Chicago Blackhawks PR Manager Files Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Gay Discrimination Led to His Firing
A former public relations manager for the Chicago Blackhawks has filed a lawsuit against the team, alleging he was wrongfully terminated due to his sexual orientation.
Anthony Filomena, who worked with the team from June 2022 until May 2024, claims he was fired just one day after raising concerns about being unfairly criticized for participating in a media interview that discussed his experience as a gay man in the hockey world.
According to the lawsuit, Filomena says Jerry Ferguson, the team’s Executive Vice President of Brand and Marketing, discriminated against him for being gay and treated him differently from other employees in similar roles. The suit argues this violated Title VII and EEOC protections.
Filomena stated that prior to his dismissal, he had reported Ferguson to Human Resources for what he described as hostile and aggressive behavior. He also claimed that Ferguson improperly involved the marketing team in projects lacking NHL approval or appropriate contracts. Following that complaint, Filomena says Ferguson escalated his hostility — including yelling at him in front of others and accusing him of poor job performance, despite what Filomena describes as evidence to the contrary.
The Blackhawks, in a statement provided to Fox News, denied the claims and said Filomena was fired “for cause” after repeated misconduct over six months. The organization said he had received multiple formal warnings before his dismissal and added that his termination had nothing to do with his sexual orientation.
However, Filomena disputes that narrative in the lawsuit. He claims he consistently met job expectations, pointing to a performance review in which he received “On Track” ratings in all categories.
A key moment in the timeline was Filomena’s appearance in an Outsports interview, where he spoke about his identity as a gay man in hockey and his work advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion. He says the interview had been approved by team leadership and was consistent with his regular PR duties. Nonetheless, Filomena alleges that he was informed afterward that members of his department were unhappy with the interview. He claims he voiced concerns that the backlash was rooted in anti-gay bias — and was let go the very next day.
The lawsuit seeks damages, back pay, legal fees, and compensation for emotional distress. It asserts that Filomena has suffered professionally and personally as a result of the
