Lawsuit Alleges Houston Rockets Players Harassed Server at Barclays Center with Gay Slurs

The Houston Rockets are facing a lawsuit for alleged homophobic slurs inside the locker room during a 2013 game at the Barclays Center against the Nets. Rasean Tate is suing the Rockets and the catering company at the Barclays Center according to the New York Post. Tate, who is gay, claims he was fired from his job as a server after reporting the comments Houston players made while he was setting up the buffet in the visiting locker room.

"“When the plaintiff’s back was turned to defendant Rockets players, he began to hear laughter and taunting voices saying ‘get this f—– out of here!’ according to the suit. “‘He’s trying to catch a sneaky peaky!’”"

Tate told supervisors what happened and they apologized. As time passed he was eventually phased out of his job.

"“This was solely in retaliation for his complaints about the harassment and discrimination he faced by defendant Rockets players and because of plaintiff’s sexual orientation,” the suit claims."

The lawsuit did not list individual Rockets players by name.

The Nets made headlines earlier this year when they signed Jason Collins, who became the first openly gay player in the NBA.