My question involves unemployment benefits for the state of: TN

I was working for a company and the manager often made rude vulgar comments to me. One day recently he made such comments (vulgar sexually explicit and demeaning) in the presence of the other wait staff and I found this to be very humiliating. I became very angry and began yelling at the manager. We began arguing and his basic response to my objection was "Deal with it or leave". We continued arguing and he told me if I don't like things I should turn in my key and leave...which I did.

I then left the building and called the owners of the restaurant and told them I intended to file a complaint with EEOC. I also told them of several things they did not know of but certainly disapproved of as far as how the restaurant was being run.

I had hoped they would contact me on the following day and say they had addressed the manager and the hostile work environment he created but they did not. So, the third day of the week, I called them again and told them that although I was very angry when I spoke to them, I did not want this to be the end of my employment, I merely wanted the problem with the manager corrected. I spoke with the owner a third time on Friday of that week and he told me I would be contacted with a final decision on the following Monday.

Unfortunately, they never called back. A couple of weeks later I received a written notice in the mail saying my termination was volunatary and I quit. After applying for unemployment, they contested my claim and so I made an appeal. I am now awaiting notification of the date to go for the appeal.

These people are saying that "everyone" participated in the vulgarity and it was just employees joking around with one another. The owners and the manager and some of the other coworkers seem to all be sticking to this story.

When I walked out of the place, I was so upset I felt I had no other choice. I immediately called the owners to discuss this problem. I made it quite clear that I wanted to remain in my position...several times that week during our phone conversations. Now they are saying I voluntarily left, everyone participated in this "joking around" and they are probably going to be dishonest when we all give our versions of events during the appeal. Can anyone offer advice? How do I deal with several people who are sticking together with an outrageous lie to discredit me?