Christian lifeguard says LA County punished him over Pride flag objection

A Christian lifeguard with the Los Angeles County Fire Department who says he was punished for his religious beliefs after objecting to pride flag duties is heading toward a hearing.

Capt. Jeffrey Little, who has more than 20 years of experience with the L.A. County Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division, sued Los Angeles County and several fire department chiefs in 2024 after the county adopted a policy in 2023 requiring the Progressive Pride flag to be flown at county facilities during the month of June to honor LGBTQ Pride month.

Little, a devout Christian, argued that this policy conflicted with his religious beliefs about marriage and sexuality, and sought a religious compromise that would exempt him from personally raising the flag or having his subordinates raise it. Little said the district initially offered the accommodation but canceled it two days later.

Little took down several flags and was subsequently investigated and ultimately suspended without pay for 15 days.

UTAH BANNED LGBTQ+ PRIDE FLAGS, MAGA FLAGS, OTHER UNAPPROVED FLAGS ON GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS

The district says Little was punished not because of his religious beliefs but because he took down government-issued Pride flags without permission and violated department policy.

Little’s attorney, Paul Jonna of the Thomas More Society, told Fox News Digital that Little took down the flags with the belief that he was acting within compliance provided by the county and with the understanding that some stations were not required to carry the Pride flag because they did not have adequate buckles under the county’s own flag policy. Other Pride flags were previously removed from stations earlier that month for the same reason, Jonna said.

WISCONSIN SKI PARK FACED A LAWSUIT ALLEGEDLY FIRING AN EMPLOYEE BECAUSE HE SHARED BIBLE VERSES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Jonna also said there were other lifeguards who “destroyed and disrespected” the LGBTQ flag, but they were either not disciplined or received shorter suspensions than Little. He said Little used the proper channels to seek religious accommodation to fly the flag.

Gregory Winfrey (left) and Benedicto Barnachea (right), Allied Universal security guards, raise the Progressive Pride Flag over the Kenneth Hahn Executive Hall in downtown on Thursday, June 1, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The lawsuit alleges that Little suffered retaliation, harassment and discrimination after requesting an accommodation. Additionally, the allegation that Lifeguard Section Chief Fernando Boiteux told Little that “his religious beliefs are not important” is being discussed in the district.

The case is now set for trial, Jonna said, following a hearing in which a federal judge issued a sealed decision granting in part and denying in part the state’s request for summary judgment and Little’s request for partial summary judgment.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS ON MEDIA AND CULTURE

Little says he is not asking the district to end the Pride flag policy, but that he is asking for a permanent religious accommodation that would exempt him from personally removing the flag or directing others to do so, as well as removal of harm and disciplinary findings from his personnel file.

“At the end of the day, the law requires preferential treatment for religious beliefs, and the state’s message to itself and others like it that their religious beliefs do not matter is clearly unconstitutional and discriminatory,” Jonna said.

Flags flutter in the wind during the Progressive Pride Flag raising ceremony on the steps of San Fernando City Hall on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. (Los Angeles Daily News via Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Getty Images)

The LA County Fire Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION