SANTA FE—A former Santa Fe High School counselor says in a civil complaint filed against the school district that he was fired because he is a white, gay male who complained about being discriminated against.

Thomas M. Williams claims that soon after being employed as a student counselor in August 2005, counseling department co-chairwomen Liz Legits and Linda Esquibel made negative comments about gays in front of him, according to the complaint filed in district court.

Santa Fe Public Schools denies the allegations.

According to the complaint, Esquibel allegedly told Williams that she had trouble working with gay counselors because they set a negative example for students and that “gays should go to hell because they are sinful.” Legits allegedly called Williams a derogatory term for a gay person.

Williams also claims he was discriminated for being a man. Esquibel allegedly told him she can’t stand working with men because “they think their ideas are the only ideas,” the complaint said.

Williams reported the problems to then-Principal Claudia Krause-Johnson, Santa Fe Public Schools Wellness director Tina Gervers, and Superintendent Leslie Carpenter, the complaint said. No investigation was undertaken in the matter, it said.

Williams’ contract was not renewed on May 16, 2006, due to “performance concerns” and the district’s uncertainty of its staffing needs for the next school year, the complaint said.