AUGUSTA — The Maine Human Rights Commission has found that an exotic dancer fired last year was let go because of her race, and not because she was overweight as the club where she worked had claimed.

The commission ruled Monday that Cecilia Smith, who worked at Portland’s PT’s Showclub, was unlawfully fired in February 2010 because she was black.

A commission investigator found that several other dancers and waitresses at the club were heavier than Smith. It would not have been illegal for the club to fire Smith because of her weight.

The commission members agreed in a 4-0 vote that PT’s discriminated against Smith.

Copy the Story Link