Openly gay West Hollywood Mayor refuses to resign after being accused of 'sexually harassing chorus members and looking for sex on Grindr during public meetings'
A protest is scheduled to take place at the West Hollywood City Council on Tuesday after several members called for Duran to step aside following what they say is a history of similar behavior.
One member, Brian Phillip Nichoalds, told the
Los Angeles Times that Duran put his hand inside his waistband and made crude sexual comments, while another man, Joey Firoben, said he was subjected to inappropriate comments as well.
Jason Tong also alleged that Duran slipped two fingers into his waistband before a show in the changing room.
In October last year, a council employee -
Mike Gerle - made a formal complaint to HR about Duran for making unwanted sexual advances to his boyfriend Dennis Gleason during public meetings.
"He has this sense of entitlement that because we're gay, 'I can do whatever I want with you because that's our culture.' He's decided that's our culture. He doesn't understand that every gay man gets to decide what interactions he has. You don't get a pass,' Gerle told the Times.
Duran has claimed that the
#MeToo movement has led to a rush of judgement against him before the allegations had been proven.
He insisted that '
being sexual does not equal sexual harassment' and that he had fought for his right to express himself as an openly gay man, and would not step down from his position'.
"..Will I resign? HELL NO. I have stared down the KKK, the White Aryan Resistance, right wing judges and Presidents.
'Being sexual does not equal sexual harassment.. I hope that West Hollywood never loses its edge, its sexual appetite, its flirtatiousness, its sexy people, its nightclubs and children of the night..."
In an unrelated incident, the city paid
$500,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit against
Duran back in February 2016.
The suit was filed by Duran's former deputy,
Ian Owens,
who he hired after meeting on Grindr and having sex with him.
(Wow)