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Fire Captain Jon Little has filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Fire Department, alleging that orders to fly the Pride flag violated his constitutional rights.
Represented by the Catholic legal group Thomas More Society, Little claims his religious beliefs were dismissed when he was instructed to fly the flag at his station.
The controversy began when Little received an exemption from flying the Pride flag on religious grounds on June 19, 2023.
However, this exemption was revoked two days later.
Little asserts that he had already removed the flags from his station before being notified of the revocation.
Following this, a superior allegedly instructed him to fly the flags again, stating that his religious beliefs were irrelevant as a county employee.
The lawsuit argues that the fire department's actions contravened Little’s rights under the First Amendment, the Civil Rights Act, and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.
Paul Jonna, Special Counsel for the Thomas More Society, stated that Little’s request was merely to have someone else handle the flag.
Jonna criticized the department’s response as a demonstration of a lack of religious tolerance.
Jonna emphasized that the Progress Pride flag represents various contentious viewpoints that encompass religious and moral dimensions.
He condemned efforts to normalize what he called ‘controversial ideologies’ and accused the department of overstepping legal boundaries.
Highlighting that many Christians either fear challenging government actions or are unaware of their rights, Jonna noted that those who do challenge often succeed.
The legal action reflects ongoing debates about religious freedom, workplace rights, and the display of symbols representing diverse social issues in public institutions. The outcome of this lawsuit may set significant precedents for similar conflicts in the future.
