A long-standing legal dispute involving a veteran lifeguard in Los Angeles County and the county’s policy on the LGBTQ pride flag is moving toward trial. This follows a federal judge’s mixed ruling regarding claims from both parties.
Capt. Jeffrey Little, who has served in the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division for many years, asserts that he faced retaliation and discrimination on religious grounds after he objected to responsibilities tied to the display of the Progress Pride flag at county facilities during Pride Month. The conflict began when the county implemented a 2023 policy mandating that the Progress Pride flag be displayed at county properties throughout June to honor LGBTQ Pride Month. As a devout Christian, Little believes that participating in the flag-raising contradicts his religious beliefs about marriage and sexuality.
He sought a religious accommodation, specifically asking to be excused from either raising the Pride flag himself or directing his subordinates to do so. Little’s attorney claims the county initially approved this request, but then reversed its decision shortly thereafter. Tensions escalated when Little removed several Pride flags from lifeguard stations. The county contends that he breached department rules by removing a government-issued flag without permission, asserting that any disciplinary measures stemmed from policy violations rather than his religious beliefs.
Ultimately, Little was investigated and received a 15-day unpaid suspension. His attorney, Paul Jonna from the Thomas More Society, argues that Little acted under the belief that he was still covered by the accommodation the county had granted. Jonna also points out that some lifeguard towers didn’t have the necessary hardware to display flags according to county regulations.
The lawsuit claims that Little faced harassment and retaliation after applying for the accommodation. In court documents, Lifeguard Division Chief Fernando Boiteux is accused of telling Little his “religious beliefs don’t matter,” a statement county officials dispute. Jonna adds that other lifeguards accused of similar offenses, like damaging Pride flags, faced lighter penalties or none at all, while Little faced a harsher outcome despite formally seeking an exemption through proper channels.
Following a recent hearing, a federal judge issued a sealed ruling that partially approved and partially denied summary judgment requests from both sides, allowing the case to advance to trial. Jonna commented, “At the end of the day, the law requires favored treatment for religious beliefs, and the message the county is sending — that their religious beliefs don’t matter — is clearly unconstitutional and discriminatory.”
Little is not attempting to entirely dismantle the county’s Pride flag policy. Instead, he seeks a court order for a permanent religious accommodation that would exempt him from Pride flag duties, the removal of disciplinary findings from his record, and compensation for damages. The Los Angeles County Fire Department has yet to respond to inquiries about the latest developments in this case.
