Christian Lifeguard Wins Flag Dispute
The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) has recently come to terms in a partial agreement with Jeffrey Little, a Christian lifeguard captain, who filed a lawsuit citing religious discrimination after declining to hoist a pride flag last summer. As per a statement released by the Thomas More Society, LACoFD will permit Little to refrain from raising the Progress Pride flag during June as part of his job responsibilities. He will either be assigned to stations where the flag isn’t flown or have the option to exchange shifts to avoid this duty.
This legal dispute originated from a directive by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors mandating the display of Progress Pride flags at county-owned facilities. Despite securing an exemption last year, which was subsequently revoked, Little’s lifeguard facility at Will Rogers Beach was mandated to showcase the flag. Little alleged instances of retaliation and harassment, including being informed by a supervisor that his religious convictions held no significance because of his status as an LA County employee.
Although the partial accommodation has been reached, the county has declined to grant Little the full religious accommodation he sought, which would encompass a consistent safeguarding of his religious liberty rights. He remains obligated to ensure that his subordinates adhere to the flag requirement, a task he finds objectionable, and must annually submit a request for religious accommodation during pride month. His legal representatives intend to pursue both preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.
Little has expressed optimism that his legal action will facilitate constructive conversations between faith-based employees and their employers, stressing that no employee should be pressured to forsake their faith within the workplace. Attorney Paul Jonna, who represents Little, anticipates that this case will set a precedent in safeguarding Christians who oppose such displays, advocating for robust legal measures to uphold religious freedoms in professional settings.
Celebrating gays is celebrating sin. Not a good idea. No animosity. It’s their sin to contend with. Just don’t celebrate it. What next? Celebrate Abortion Month? We have become a sick society when we celebrate that which goes against The Bible.