BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- A man said he was fired from his hotel job for his sexual orientation and claims the owner who let him go dared him to sue.

Employee Says He Was Fired For Being Gay

David Hill is looking for a new job after he said he was fired Tuesday from a former Brentwood Holiday Inn, which now goes by the name Artee Hotel.

"They literally said to me because of my orientation and my alternative lifestyle, that I was not a fit for the hotel," said Hill.

Hill said he used to be the human resources director and is shocked at the owner's decision to dismiss him because of his sexual preference.

"The owner (Tarun Surti) said, 'I don't give a damn. They can sue me. I will not have any of the gays in leadership roles in my hotel.' And that's a quote," said Hill.

While the owner was not available to talk to Channel 4, the assistant general manager, Leonard Stoddard, did comment. He said Hill was fired because "he was gay." He said he was also the one who had to tell Hill that he was being removed from his position.

"The owner, Mr. Surti, comes from a culture that is not very tolerant to the gay lifestyle, and therefore he felt it necessary to have him removed from the workforce at the property," said Stoddard.

"(He was fired) strictly because of his sexual orientation?” asked reporter Katina Rankin.

"I do believe that's a very fair assumption," asked Stoddard.

"Did you agree with his decision?" asked Rankin.

"I did not," said Stoddard. "It is in our employee handbook that no one should be discriminated against, harassed verbally, physically or any other means for their sexuality, their sexual orientation, gender, race or anything of that sort."

Hill said he plans on taking legal action and he has already filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor.

The hotel is privately owned and not part of the Holiday Inn chain. As of Thursday evening, the owner of the hotel had not returned Channel 4's calls.