{"id":2256714,"date":"2024-05-31T13:06:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T17:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-fire-department-employee-files-suit-against-county-after-it-allegedly-revoked-religious-exemption-ordered-him-to-raise-pride-flag\/"},"modified":"2024-05-31T13:11:37","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T17:11:37","slug":"christian-fire-department-employee-files-suit-against-county-after-it-allegedly-revoked-religious-exemption-ordered-him-to-raise-pride-flag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/christian-fire-department-employee-files-suit-against-county-after-it-allegedly-revoked-religious-exemption-ordered-him-to-raise-pride-flag\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Fire Dept. Worker Sues County Over Revoked Religious Exemption, Forced Pride Flag Display"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchristian-fire-department-employee-files-suit-against-county-after-it-allegedly-revoked-religious-exemption-ordered-him-to-raise-pride-flag%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2256714&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses Captain Jeffrey\u200c Little&#8217;s federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County\u200b for being compelled to raise the &#8220;Progress Pride&#8221; flag, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/handful-of-liberal-cities-cling-to-covid-vax-mandates\/\" title=\"Handful of Liberal Cities Cling to COVID Vax Mandates\">alleging religious discrimination<\/a>. The case raises concerns about religious freedom and \u2064government favoritism. Little&#8217;s firm stance\u2062 highlights the ongoing\u200c battle between personal beliefs\u200c and workplace mandates, emphasizing the importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-eye-chance-for-historic-win-in-deep-blue-texas-district\/\" title=\"Republicans Eye Chance for Historic Win in Deep-Blue Texas District\">upholding constitutional rights<\/a> for all.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/commentary\/\">  Commentary <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/remmanuel\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/remmanuel\/%20\"><span>Rachel M. Emmanuel<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 31, 2024 at 8:15am <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>It wasn\u2019t so long ago when Christians were told that they were fear-mongering when they worried about being forced to participate or perform behaviors that went against their faith when dealing with the LGBT community and their demands for attention.<\/p>\n<p>Christians were told that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/recent-study-outrages-lgbt-community-links-transgenderism-prior-psychiatric-illness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LGBT<\/a> community just wanted equal rights to live their life and that any attempt to talk about that \u201cslippery slope\u201d was nothing more than alarmist fear mongering.<\/p>\n<p>But the slope that sane people were worried about has become a sheer drop, and if you live in California, you are probably already in quite the free fall.<\/p>\n<p>A veteran captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department\u2019s lifeguard division has filed a federal lawsuit against the county over its policy requiring him to raise the \u201cProgress Pride\u201d flag during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/woke-nascar-kicks-off-pride-month-apology-lgbt-community\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LGBT Pride month<\/a>, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/christian-sues-california-pride-flags-1906508\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Newsweek<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit comes just before LGBT \u201cPride Month\u201d in June when many cities will be displaying flags on government buildings, presumably to celebrate the sexual preferences of a group of individuals.<\/p>\n<p>The Progress Pride Flag, first introduced in 2018 by artist Daniel Quasar, builds upon the traditional rainbow Pride flag design.<\/p>\n<p>Apparently, one flag for the LGBT community wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n<p>The upgraded flag incorporates additional chevron stripes in white, pink, and light blue to represent the transgender community, as well as black and brown stripes to symbolize LGBTQ+ individuals of color.<\/p>\n<p>Newsweek reports that Captain Jeffrey Little says the mandate to raise these types of flags violates his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/disruptive-protests-not-constitutional-right\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">constitutional<\/a> rights and amounts to religious discrimination.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Should employees be able to refuse raising of a \u201cpride\u201d flag?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>According to the complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court, Captain Jeffrey Little, who is an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/evangelical-voters-concerned-immigration-sovereignty-abortion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">evangelical<\/a> Christian, initially received a religious accommodation in June 2023, exempting him from having to raise the \u201cpride\u201d flag based on his beliefs regarding marriage and sexuality.<\/p>\n<p>However, the lawsuit states the accommodation was abruptly rescinded just two days later. It alleges that the department modified flagpoles at Little\u2019s assigned Dockweiler beach worksite on June 21st to allow the \u201cpride\u201d flags to be raised, despite previously telling him that location would not be subject to the policy.<\/p>\n<p>When Little reported for his shift that morning, he took down the newly raised \u201cpride\u201d flags between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm with approval from staff. But around 2:45\u00a0 pm, the complaint states he was informed his accommodation had been revoked, and a supervisor directly ordered him to re-raise the flags in an \u201d abusive, inappropriate, harassing, and discriminatory\u201d manner motivated by \u201canimus toward Captain Little\u2019s religious beliefs,\u201d according to the suit, which was acquired by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firelawblog.com\/2024\/05\/27\/la-county-sued-by-lifeguard-captain-over-progress-pride-flag\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fire Law Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Two days later, the division chief allegedly hand-delivered a \u201cDirect Order\u201d to Little to fly the flag, telling him, \u201cYou are an LA County employee; that\u2019s the only thing that matters,\u201d and \u201cYour religious beliefs do not matter; you are an LA County employee,\u201d in what Little described as a \u201cphysically intimidating\u201d way, given the chief\u2019s 6-foot-4, 220-pound stature.<\/p>\n<p>The nine-count lawsuit accuses the county of religious creed discrimination, retaliation, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-rep-murphy-house-republicans-introduce-resolution-to-protect-free-speech-academic-freedoms\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Murphy, House Republicans Introduce Resolution To Protect Free Speech, Academic Freedoms\">free speech violations<\/a>, and failing to prevent harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/california-cop-quits-inappropriate-interaction-female-detainee-gets-exposed-single\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California<\/a> Fair Employment and Housing Act, and the U.S. and state constitutions.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint argues that the messages and views represented by the LGBT flag directly conflict with Captain Jeffrey Little\u2019s \u201cbona fide and sincerely held religious beliefs\u201d on related subjects like marriage and sexuality.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile Captain Little understands that the government can speak its own messages, and thus may promote Pride Month, he believes that he cannot personally do so by raising the Progress Pride Flag,\u201d\u00a0 the complaint states.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoing so would be to personally participate in, espouse, and promote messages contrary to his sincerely held religious beliefs, similar to how many courts have recognized that Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses may not salute or pledge allegiance to the flag of any nation or state,\u201d it continues.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint adds that even though Little had asked for accommodations ahead of \u201cPride Month\u201d so that he would not be asked to raise the flag, the department has not \u201csubstantively engaged\u201d with him, Newsweek stated.<\/p>\n<p>One of Little\u2019s attorneys stated in a press release, \u201cIn our great country, Americans can\u2019t 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\u2014or face termination.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As a government entity, Los Angeles County is bound by the Establishment Clause of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/catholic-group-sues-biden-administration-blatant-violation-first-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">First Amendment<\/a>, which prohibits government actions that unduly favor or disfavor any particular religion over others.<\/p>\n<p>Government offices and agencies frequently make accommodations and provisions for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/were-being-treated-as-if-we-are-covid-itself-scientists-from-major-research-lab-push-back-against-vaccine-mandate\/\" title=\"\u2018We\u2019re Being Treated As If We Are COVID Itself\u2019: Scientists From Major Research Lab Push Back Against Vaccine Mandate\">employees\u2019 religious beliefs<\/a> and practices \u2013 whether it\u2019s allowing time\/space for Muslim prayers, modifying uniforms for specific religions, leave for holy days and more. This is an acknowledgment that the government must respect religious free exercise rights.<\/p>\n<p>So then, why are Christians always exempted from these considerations?<\/p>\n<p>If Los Angeles County has made accommodations for other religions, which you can bet your bottom dollar it has, then they have an even more stringent duty to ensure that Little is treated with the same respect.<\/p>\n<p>The case will play out in the courts, but it\u2019s just one more example of the government putting Christian religious freedom below its agenda, and unlike most in California who have long reached the bottom of the slope when it comes to the erosion of their First Amendment rights, Little should be commended for standing his ground.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>I heard a chilling comment the other day: \u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>That wasn\u2019t said by a conspiracy theorist or a doomsday prophet. No, former U.S. national security advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn said that to the founder of The Western Journal, Floyd Brown.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Gen. Flynn\u2019s warning means that the 2024 election is the most important election for every single living American. If we lose this one to the wealthy elites who hate us, hate God, and hate what America stands for, we can only assume that 248 years of American history and the values we hold dear to our hearts may soon vanish.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The end game is here, and as Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>All of this means that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, it\u2019s over. We have the platform, the journalists, and the experience to fight back hard, but Big Tech is strangling us through advertising blacklists, shadow bans, and algorithms. Did you know that we\u2019ve been blacklisted by 90% of advertisers? Without direct support from you, our readers, we can\u2019t continue the fight.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Can we count on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>your support<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? It may not seem like much, but a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Western Journal Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  can make all the difference in the world because when you support us directly, you cut Big Tech out of the picture. They lose control. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A monthly Western Journal Membership costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We are literally counting on you because without our members, The Western Journal would cease to exist. Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  in the fight? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Sincerely,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45763\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/remmanuel\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45763\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-45763\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45763\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45763\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Rachel Emmanuel has served as the director of content on a Republican congressional campaign and writes content for a popular conservative book franchise.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Rachel M. Emmanuel has served as the Director of Content on a Republican Congressional campaign and writes for a popular Conservative book franchise. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a commentary by Rachel M. Emmanuel on May 31, 2024, at 8:15 am, Christians were once dismissed for fearing coercion to act against their beliefs regarding the LGBT community. The struggle against pressure for compliance with conflicting values remains a contentious issue for many Christians<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2329,"featured_media":2256715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/lgbt-flag.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2256714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/lgbt-flag.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2256714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2329"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2256714"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2256714\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2256715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2256714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2256714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2256714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}