On behalf of the gay superintendent fired last month from a Midlothian-based high school, Lambda Legal has filed a sexual orientation discrimination complaint with the Cook County Commission on Human Rights.
On Dec. 13, Lambda Legal filed a complaint alleging sexual orientation discrimination against Bremen Community High School District No. 228, Bremen Community Board of Education and Bremen School Board president Evelyn Gleason. The school board fired openly gay superintendent Rich Mitchell on Nov. 9 after eight hours of deliberation. According to the school's lawyer, Mitchell was let go due to poor leadership.
The gay superintendent made headlines when an edgy video he created for teachers' amusement was leaked.
Mitchell was hired by Bremen in 2004 and, because of great reviews, had his contract extended thru 2009. Mitchell claims that Gleason, a board member at the time, resisted his hiring because he is gay. According to Lambda Legal, school board president Gleason sought to invalidate Mitchell's extended contract, and when a parent confronted her about the situation, Gleason responded by saying, 'Did you know that he's gay?'
James P. Madigan, staff attorney for Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional Office, is representing Mitchell. ( Neither the school district nor Gleason responded to Windy City Times' attempts to communicate before the press date. )
The Cook County Human Rights Ordinance protects employees from being fired on the basis on sexual orientation and gender identity.