HOUSTON – A former employee of Houston Baptist University sued the school for allegedly firing her because she is in an interracial relationship with an African-American man, recent Houston federal court records say.
Danya Wilde’s lawsuit, filed Sept. 6 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas, shows that Wilde attended several HBU functions with her boyfriend only to be ostracized or berated by the school’s employees.
The plaintiff, who is white, adds that the couple’s son was also a target of disparaging remarks. The latter attended HBU free of charge as part of his mother’s employee benefits.
The suit further asserts that the defendant “has exhibited a bias against African-Americans,” claiming the both the president and the provost made racially insensitive comments.
HBU reportedly dismissed the complainant on grounds she “appeared that she was no longer dedicated to her staff” to which the suit argues was false.
“Direct and circumstantial evidence demonstrates that Ms. Wilde was terminated based on her association with her bi-racial son, and her boyfriend, who is African-American,” the suit says.
Wilde’s apparent termination “forced” her son to withdrawal from HBU.
Consequently, the complainant seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by attorney Nasim Ahmad of the law firm Cline | Ahmad in Houston.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 4:16-CV-2705