Gay skydiving instructor's fury after he's fired for 'groping' female student strapped to him during jump

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:25 AM on 5th October 2010

========================='Bizarre': The profile picture on Donald Zarda's Facebook page. The former skydiving instructor has sued his boss for discrimination after he was sacked for allegedly groping a female student =============================

A gay skydiving instructor has filed a discrimination suit after he was fired from his Long Island job for allegedly touching a female student inappropriately during a jump.

Donald Zarda is furious over the 'bizarre' accusation, claiming it could not have happened because he is gay.

Zarda, 40, was tightly strapped to the woman, identified only as Rosanna, as they plunged to earth during a tandem jump in Long Island in New York on June 18.

As the pair were strapped together, he said to her: 'Don't worry, I'm gay'.

Rosanna then complained to his boss at Skydive Long Island, Ray Maynard. Maynard in turn fired Zarda for 'inappropriate behaviour', claiming he had also touched Rosanna 'in a way that made her uncomfortable'.

Zarda was furious at the allegations, telling the New York Post that he is '100 per cent gay'.

'So you're accusing me - the gay guy - of touching the girl inappropriately?' he continued. 'This situation is so bizarre.'

He claimed that the instructors make jokes - often sexual ones - with the students to dispel the awkwardness that comes with being tightly strapped to a stranger.  He accused Maynard of refusing to let him watch the video of the jump, which he said would clear him.

Zarda also said he has been unable to find a new job since because of the incident.

Maynard's lawyer, Saul Zabell, insisted the skydiving boss knew of Zarda's sexuality and that it was not a reason for the firing.

Zabell said Zarda was terminated for inappropriate behaviour in the workplace - and claimed there were further incidents that had not yet been reported - but would not elaborate.

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