No fruities with your rooty tooty?

The International House of Pancakes in West Hollywood is located at the city's gay ground zero--surrounded by martinis, pecs, and attitude. So it came as a shock when waiter Gene Piva, who had worked at the IHOP for 7 1/2 years, claimed he was let go because of his age and because he is gay. Piva, 57, says he knew things were different when he was excluded from an August 6 staff meeting called by Charles Cheng, the new general manager, after the restaurant changed ownership this summer.

Piva claims no one ever explicitly told him he was fired. He called once a week for four weeks after August 6, checking to see if he had any shifts, only to be told he had none. Cheng claims Piva called in only once.

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An antigay remark allegedly made by Cheng and the removal of LGBT publications from the lobby demonstrate how the restaurant has changed, adds Piva. An IHOP corporate spokesman pointed out that each restaurant is independently owned and operated and the distribution of all publications inside IHOP restaurants is discouraged.

Cheng says Piva was an employee of the former owner and that now that the location has changed hands it's "a new company" that can choose whether to rehire former staff. Yet Piva was one of only four who were not rehired, even though he had a devoted clientele. In 2006 he received a personal commendation from IHOP's corporate headquarters.

Across the street from the baby-blue IHOP sits Barney's Beanery, a bar and restaurant that for over 30 years featured a sign declaring FAGOTS STAY OUT. The sign was taken down in 1984 after years of pressure from local politicians and activists.

"It's unfortunate discrimination and homophobia are still alive in West Hollywood," says Piva, who at press time was scheduled to meet with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.