Christian Worker Sues Allstate in Free Speech Case
Friday, Aug. 19, 2005
Posted: 7:30:27AM EST

The Allstate Insurance Company is being sued by a former worker in Illinois who has alleged he was fired for writing articles opposing same-sex marriage and the gay lifestyle.

Matt Barber, of Villa Park near Chicago, was fired from his job as a manager in the corporate security division of the company three days after meeting with supervisors in December 2004 who confirmed that he wrote the articles.

Barber, 35, and a Christian, says he had written the opinion articles on his own time, which were later posted on conservative websites. The titles of the writings included "Intolerance Will Not Be Tolerated!" and "The Gay Agenda vs. Family Values.

"In his suit, filed in May of this year, Barber claims that his firing is in violation of his free speech rights. He is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

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