Perez filed a discrimination complaint against the station, claiming he was demoted because his superiors were uncomfortable with his sexual orientation. After filing the complaint, Perez was fired from the station on August 6, 2009.http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/08/breaking-news-wplg-fires-anchor-charles-perez.html

"We filed a charge of discrimination last week. We will now amend that to include his termination as part of his claims."—Melanie E. Damian, Perez's attorneyhttp://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/08/breaking-news-wplg-fires-anchor-charles-perez.html

"This is an outrageous accusation... As a gay man myself, I can safely say the Station does not discriminate against gay people. Charles' claim that the Station discriminates against gay people is untrue and offensive."—WPLG Vice President and News Director Bill Pohoveyhttp://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/08/breaking-news-wplg-fires-anchor-charles-perez.html