A lifeguard with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Captain Jeffrey Little, is set to go to trial after claiming he was suspended for his religious beliefs regarding the Pride flag. Little, a veteran of over 20 years, filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County and several fire department supervisors in 2024, following the county's 2023 policy that mandated the Progress Pride flag be displayed at county facilities during June for LGBTQ Pride month.
Little argued that the policy conflicted with his religious beliefs about marriage and sexuality, and he sought a religious accommodation to avoid raising the flag or ensuring it was raised by subordinates. Initially, the county granted this accommodation but revoked it two days later. After removing several flags, Little was investigated and subsequently suspended for 15 days without pay.
The county contends that Little was not punished for his beliefs but for unauthorized removal of government-issued Pride flags, which violated department policy. Little's attorney, Paul Jonna, stated that Little believed he was acting within the granted accommodation and noted that other flags had been removed for similar reasons. The lawsuit claims that Little faced retaliation and discrimination after requesting the accommodation, including an allegation that a division chief told him his religious beliefs were irrelevant, which the county disputes.
The case is being prepared for trial following a recent hearing where a federal judge issued a ruling on motions from both parties. Little is not seeking to end the Pride flag policy but is asking for a permanent religious accommodation and damages, along with the removal of disciplinary findings from his record. Jonna stated that the law requires favorable treatment for religious beliefs, and the county's actions are unconstitutional and discriminatory. The LA County Fire Department has not yet commented on the matter.