Captain Jeffrey Little Claims Discrimination for Refusing to Raise Pride Flag
Captain Jeffrey Little filed a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Fire Department alleging LA County Fire Department has violated his civil liberties and First Amendment rights. The lawsuit, filed on May 24, 2024, in the United States District Court, alleges that the Fire Department has threatened Little with dismissal for refusing to raise the ‘Progress Pride Flag,’ violating his First Amendment rights and federal and state laws. Little’s deeply held religious beliefs prevent him from participating in raising the Progress Pride Flag, leading to allegations of religious discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by the Fire Department. Thomas More Society attorneys are representing Little.
Resolution passed by LA County Board of Supervisors
In March 2023, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution mandating that all county-operated facilities fly the Progress Pride Flag during June. In June 2023, Little requested a religious accommodation to exempt him from personally raising the flag, in line with the resolution. Initially, on June 19, 2023, the Fire Department granted his request, assuring him that he would neither have to raise the flag himself nor ensure it was raised at his station. However, this accommodation was rescinded two days later on June 21, 2023.
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Following the revocation, Little faced immediate retaliation and harassment from Fire Department personnel. His supervisors, including his division and section chiefs, ordered him to raise the flag. Division Chief Fernando Boiteux told Little on June 22, 2023, “You are an LA County employee, that’s the only thing that matters,” and, “Your religious beliefs do not matter.” The next day, Little was removed from his role in the background investigation unit, and the Department disclosed his accommodation request to unauthorized individuals, resulting in Little receiving a death threat targeting him and his daughters.
A federal lawsuit has been filed
The federal lawsuit, filed by Thomas More Society attorneys on behalf of Captain Little, addresses the Fire Department’s continued failure to accommodate his religious beliefs as required by the United States Constitution and civil rights laws. The complaint seeks damages, a temporary restraining order, and a permanent injunction to protect Little’s religious rights during Pride Month.
Paul Jonna, Thomas More Society Special Counsel and Partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP, stated:
“Captain Jeffrey Little is an upstanding American, a devout Christian father, and a public servant who has honorably served the Los Angeles County Fire Department for over 22 years. He courageously stood on principle and asked for a simple religious accommodation—which he is rightfully and legally due—only to be first denied, then threatened, harassed, discriminated and retaliated against for his widely shared Christian religious beliefs. In our great country, Americans can’t even be forced to salute the American flag as a condition of government employment. Yet, in this case, the L.A. County Fire Department seeks to force Captain Little to personally raise the Progress Pride Flag in violation of his sincere and deeply held religious beliefs—or face termination. The L.A. County Fire Department’s actions are not only deeply un-American, but also flagrantly illegal. We’ve filed this federal lawsuit to vindicate Captain Little’s religious liberty rights and to firmly establish that this sort of blatant religious discrimination has no place in our public life.”
Paul Jonna, Thomas More Society Special Counsel and Partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP
