California man goes on homophobic rant, unzips pants over mask wearing
A California man insulted two coworkers at a Marshall's store because he refused to follow their mask policy
When you go to Marshall’s you’re usually looking for something to enhance your home decor or a bargain on luggage or pet supplies. You aren’t expecting to witness a homophobic rant.
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Unfortunately for Marshall’s shoppers in Northern California, a man later identified as Tim Gaskin, 54, took offense to the store’s mask policy. He delivered a rant that included a homophobic slur and a threat to expose himself to store workers.
California’s ABC7 reported on the altercation.
“What’s your dumb f*****g f****t problem? You don’t know the law? That’s how stupid you are,” the man in the video said to the person recording the incident.
The incident began when the man confirmed to be Gaskin by users who recognized him on social media, as well as CBS San Francisco who had interviewed him in the past, refused to wear a mask in the store. He evoked the Disabilities Act, saying he had hearing loss to excuse his behavior.
“It’ll cost you $75,000. It’s a health code violation to deny service to someone with a disability,” Gaskin said to one of the employees asking him to put on a mask or leave the premises. “So I would love you to do it, it’ll cost you $75,000.”
Gaskin then told a Latino employee “Dumb Mexican guy doesn’t know because he doesn’t speak English,” and unzipped his pants as though he was going to expose himself.
In 2004, the San Francisco native, according to a LinkedIn account that has the same person’s name and photo, once hosted a weekly LGBT news show called OUTspoken on a Comcast public access channel. In 2006, Gaskin said he was a major fundraiser for HIV/AIDS-related causes.
The videos recorded in the Campbell, California store are less than a minute each and it does not appear that any arrest was made. However, authorities say they may be able to do so once an investigation is complete.
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“Our primary concern, obviously with this call, which I think is of great concern is the exposure aspect of this and if a crime occurred,” Captain Ian White of the Campbell police department told ABC7 News. “And that’s really not to minimize the mask-wearing and the times that we’re in now, and how dangerous that can be as well.”
He continued: “But you know, really looking at the crime aspect of exposing oneself in the middle of a populated store, and trying to look into that at this point.”
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