Gay skydive teach axed for 'gal grope'
By KIERAN CROWLEY
www.nypost.com
Last Updated: 6:10 AM, October 4, 2010________________________
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A skydiving instructor who joked with a female student that he couldn't be falling for her because he's gay has filed a discrimination suit, claiming he was cut loose from his job because of the quip.
Donald Zarda was strapped tightly to the woman, identified only as Rosanna, as they floated to earth in a tandem jump June 18, when he told her, "Don't worry, I'm gay."
Rosanna complained to his then-boss at Skydive Long Island in Calverton, Ray Maynard.
Zarda says Maynard accused him of "inap propriate behavior" and also said he had touched the stu dent "in a way that made her uncomfortable."
But the skydiver scoffs at the allegation he had fondled the woman.
"I'm 100 percent gay," Zarda told The Post.
"So, you're accusing me -- the gay guy -- of touching the girl inappropriately?
"The situation is so bizarre."
He claims all the instructors routinely joke with customers about the awkwardness of a stranger being strapped to their backs, including raunchy sexual references.
Zarda, 40, says he has applied for jobs elsewhere, but, because of the incident, was told to take a flying leap.
"It's been very difficult," he said. "It has had a very big impact, emotionally."
He claims Maynard has refused to let him watch videos of the jump, which he insists would clear him.
Maynard declined to comment but his lawyer, Saul Zabell, said his client knew Zarda was gay and that was not the reason for the firing.
"He was terminated for inappropriate behavior in the workplace," said Zabell, who refused to elaborate.
Zabell also claimed there was "more than one single incident" that led to the firing but would not supply details. He also denied that other instructors have made joking sexual com ments to students.
