Email this Article Printer-friendly

By Matthew Westphal
14 Jun 2007

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has settled a claim brought by its former second oboist alleging anti-gay discrimination.

News of the settlement comes four days before a hearing on the matter was to have taken place before the New York State Division of Human Rights.

J. Bud Roach had been the BPO's second oboist until he was denied tenure in February of 2004. He had alleged that, beginning in February 2003, he had protested to BPO management and to music director JoAnn Falletta over anti-gay remarks and hostile treatment from his section principal, oboist Pierre Roy. When he felt that the situation had not been resolved, Roach filed a complaint with the NYS DHR; upon denial of tenure in 2004, he filed a second complaint alleging retaliation.

The case was made public last month by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

As often happens when such legal actions are settled, neither party will comment publicly on the case.

BPO executive director Daniel Hart told PlaybillArts via e-mail, "The matter you have inquired about has been resolved and there is no further comment from the BPO."

"All I can tell you," Roach said to The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk for an article published today, "is that the situation has been resolved." (Falletta is also music director of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, which is based in Norfolk.)

Keyword: Features/Location: All News Features Writer:

Contact Us | Advertise

Send questions and comments to the Webmaster
Copyright © 2008 Playbill, Inc. All Rights Reserved.