Dalton Stevens attended his high school prom in a dress to «break the stigma around men who wear skirts»
The director of a technology company was fired after taunting a queer boy for wearing a red dress to his prom. The event was recorded on video and generated repudiation on the internet and in activists of the LGBTQ + community.
Sam Johnson was the director of a telemedicine company called Visuwell. The company directors made the decision to fire him after a video where he harassed the queer teen went viral.
The video was recorded by the teenager’s boyfriend, who initially uploaded it to his TikTok account. In the clip you can see Dalton Stevens, the queer boy who was dressed for his prom, repeatedly asking Johnson to leave him alone.
Meanwhile, the businessman looks at the young man with distaste and a mocking gesture. Instead of retreating, the man increasingly harasses and denigrates Dalton’s appearance. It is at that moment when the young man walks away, but not before telling him that he decides what to wear.
«I have chosen what I want to wear, so you can go to hell,» said the queer boy.
However, the subject did not leave the teenager alone. He followed him, then told him he «looked like an idiot» for wearing a dress to his prom.
– Men’s skirts: a liberating trend for 2021
At that moment, Stevens exchanges a few words and tries to escape the insults of the businessman. Sam Johnson continues to look at the teenager with distaste, until other locals intervene to change his attitude.
«It’s just a prom. They are children, it is a group of children. Come on, friend,» says one of those present.
A FACT OF DISCRIMINATION THAT WAS NOT UNPUNISHED
Sam Johnson did not imagine the repercussion that his act of discrimination would have. In fact, the video went viral on social networks and several celebrities spoke out in respect.
For example, writer and activist Charlotte Clymer, as well as comedian Kathy Griffin, rejected Johnson’s attitude toward the queer boy.
«With zero evidence, we’re told that trans women are somehow a public safety threat. Meanwhile, cis men like Sam Johnson, CEO of @VisuWell, are harassing LBGTQ children in public.» Clymer said on Twitter.
With zero evidence, we're told that trans women are somehow a public safety threat. Meanwhile, cis men like Sam Johnson, CEO of @VisuWell, are harassing LBGTQ children in public. https://t.co/havw9QN1Ys
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) April 26, 2021
In the same way that the executive’s actions reached social networks, the video also reached the Visuwell board of directors. Through its Twitter account, the company announced the dismissal of Johnson.
«After investigating the matter and speaking with the people involved, the VisuWell board of directors has chosen to terminate Mr. Johnson from his position as CEO effective immediately,» reads part of the text.
Official Statement pic.twitter.com/cMYoAEbI9d
— VisuWell (@VisuWell) April 27, 2021
Despite the fact that the video is forceful, Sam Johnson assures that the accusations he received are false. The queer teen’s boyfriend said the idea of attending the graduation in a dress was «breaking the stigma around men who wear dresses.»
Sam Johnson, homophobic CEO of @VisuWell, is about to go through some things.
What a miserable creep. https://t.co/HrmohAsK8o
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) April 26, 2021
