A firefighter claims he was forced off the force by city officials after they learned he was gay.
According to the Virginian-Pilot, the Norfolk firefighter, Scott Phillips-Gartner, 55, ran into trouble after marrying his longtime boyfriend.
Phillips-Gartner worked for Fire-Rescue for many years, starting as a 911 operator and eventually becoming an assistant fire marshal and bomb squad technician.
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But after his wedding, he says the department suddenly stripped away his rank and law-enforcement powers, reassigning him to a low-level desk job with “little to no job duties.”
His attorney, Barry Montgomery, says Phillips-Gartner wound up retiring amid threats of being fired. “This was not the way he wanted to leave,” Montgomery says. “It was humiliating.”
With Montgomery’s help, he’s suing the city of Norfolk for creating a hostile work environment. The suit notes that Battalion Chief Roger Burris mocked Phillips-Gartner throughout 2015, treating him poorly and asking “Where is Ms. Gartner?” in staff meetings.
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It also claims Phillips-Gartner was well regarded by superiors and colleagues until he informed the city’s HR department that he’d gotten married.
In 2016, Norfolk implemented a non-discrimination policy protecting city employees from being unfairly treated on the basis of sexual orientation.
City officials from Norfolk have declined to comment to the Virginian-Pilot on the story or the lawsuit.
fur_hunter
At least he has the non-discrimination policy on his side. I hope he wins. This happened to me back in 1981 in Georgia. I was terminated because they found out who I was. Yeah. After over 10 years, they finally put two and two together and got GAY. It was legal because Georgia was a right to work state. Not sure if things have changed since then. I moved on and went to work for a company who had no problem with who I was.
stunz1954
You should come to nz .. We have a openly gay married commander of a christchurch station. His partner will collect the mail iin his pink slippers and no one makes a comment. Our sexual preferrences shouldn’t affect our careers
frankcar1965
You can still get beaten up and killed in the US, lovely country we live in.
Kangol
In the US more than half of the 50 states still do not have full protections for LGBTQ people, and that includes for people based on their sexual orientation (“sexual preference” is an antiquated term) or gender identity.
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pharaon.em.joe
One of my uncles used to live in norfolk-virginia beach area. He was a homophobe and a stupid ignorant republican. Anyway.. it doesn’t surprise me that there is discrimination there.. sucks for the fire fighter.. USA sucks!
rray63
This situation sucks, but to say the U.S.A. sucks is another matter. If you find it so bad you could always move, right?
frankcar1965
The US does suck, and rray63, you can suck my left nut, you could do that for me, right?
batesmotel
USA sucks is a broad stereotypical generalization. I know many companies in the US that don’t discriminate.
jsmu
The question is when he was fired and if the ordinance is grandfathered. Thanks, Queerty, for another lousy and uninformative article! We should not have to link to the newspaper for basic information. DUUUUHHHHHH.
frankcar1965
You lazy POS, look it up yourself!
Wicked Dickie
Is there a reason you guys are using a stock photo of a “hot firefighter”, instead of using the actual picture of Scott? No way the person in that photo is 55. It sucks that these city officials are ignorant.
rray63
Because young and beautiful is one of the things that sells. Once you pass a certain age you are forgotten. We show as part of the gay community that we adopt the straight policies very well. You won’t see a nice couple where the ages are much past 35, not on Queerty. Which pretty much only cares about how many clicks they get.
Esscourt
The man in the photo is NOT hot.
Brian
Agreed. If no photo is available, or if the subject has asked not to be identified that way, then show us the logo of the department, or the city seal, or a map of where in the heck the south this is. Lots of alternatives rather than some random (probably straight) guy who didn’t actually lose his job.
Chrisk
@rray63. You make a great point. The other story about the Uber guy they exposed the him and people were rightfully calling BS since it’s a very minor crime and not even proven. Of coarse he’s young and attractive so naturally Queerty will show his face. Here’s a story where a pic of the guy would be completely what you’d expect yet they won’t do it. It’s because as you say in Queerty’s eyes he’s over the hill so they look for another younger fireman’s photo thus erasing him.
It really does make us look very very shallow.
shanfrina
… Guess Virginia’s only for “STR8 Lovers!?!” BOYCOTT!!!
David
The fact that we still this nonsense in 2018 …. I hope he sues, and wins and I hope it bankrupts the city.
batesmotel
Oh this is in Virginia. Figures.
Mack
The “South” will always have their heads up their backside because of their “strong religious beliefs”. They like make-believe over reality. We need a strong LGBTQ law to protect employment. Hopefully he wins a major lawsuit, but if it’s a jury of the “fine southern people” I doubt it will happen.
TomG
Don’t people know that marriage is legal for everyone? Why is it even an issue anymore. If you are against it then don’t marry someone of the same sex. See how easy that is ?
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
This guy was a BOMB SQUAD TECHNICIAN!! That job takes skill and balls to undertake. How many of the smcubags who protested and caused harm to him would be willing to take on that job???
I so fcuking hate these vile, abhorrent, noxious subhuman smcubags
Doug
I hope he sues their asses off. This b.s. has to stop.
Onecaddy13
I’m absolutely appalled by the way he’s been treated by his homophobic colleagues, chief, and city supervisors. I’m pretty sure you knew his background, and now that he decides to marry the person he loves the most, you’re childlike bullying and taunts gets him to retire so he or his spouse won’t get hurt or even killed. This is true discrimination to the core, I hope he sues the pant iff the city, gets a boatload of money, and to piss all you jackasses off, he gets his prior job back, full benefits and backpay. We have laws in the US, and you surely violated his civil rights. I think all involved should be fired, lose their ranks and most of all your pensions.
GROW THE F UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish Scott and his new husband a very long and happy life…
TomG
Don’t people know that marriage is legal for everyone? Why is it even an issue anymore. If you are against it then don’t marry someone of the same sex. See how easy that is ?