Albertville firefighter faced homophobic harassment, tricked into posing with nude co-worker, lawsuit claims
Firefighter Zachary Wilkins has filed a lawsuit against the city of Albertville, alleging months of sexual harassment by co-workers and retaliation for reporting it. In his complaint, submitted on December 3, Wilkins claims that after making his allegations, he was forced to resign due to the hostile environment created by his colleagues. He’s pursuing damages under Title VII, which prohibits discrimination based on race, appearance, or sexual identity.
Wilkins states that he faced persistent homophobic remarks and inappropriate actions from his colleagues, including being tricked into taking a compromising photo with a naked coworker. He also described an incident where his clothes were stolen while he was showering, leaving him exposed to other firefighters.
When he reported his harassment to Lieutenant David Musick, he was directed to Captain Mike Hill, who allegedly reinforced a culture of silence within the department by stating, “what happens on his shift stays on his shift.” Following his complaints, Wilkins faced further retaliation, including being forced to perform physically demanding tasks despite being unwell, ultimately testing positive for COVID-19 after being coerced into a rigorous exercise in extreme heat.
The lawsuit claims that representatives from the fire department and city officials are complicit in creating a hostile environment, with claims of threats made against Wilkins by anonymous individuals. The city has acknowledged receipt of the lawsuit but has refrained from further comments pending litigation.
Read the complete article here: https://www.al.com/news/2024/12/albertville-firefighter-faced-homophobic-harassment-tricked-into-posing-with-nude-co-worker-lawsuit-claims.html
