A judge in Texas is suing the Social Security Administration (SSA)—all because he refuses to watch a training video about LGBT issues, according to the Washington Post.
Judge Gary Suttles refused to watch the 17-minute clip about diversity and now—to avoid getting fired—he’s attempting legal action against his superiors saying he was subject to a “religiously hostile work environment”.
Suttles was offered the opportunity to read a transcript of the video instead but refused, saying both options were discriminatory and a violation of his First Amendment right to freedom of religion.
The judge is the latest in a long line of Americans (including florists and bakers) who are claiming their religious freedom is being threatened by the LGBT+ community.
Suttles’ complaint says the SSA discriminated against him “on the basis of his religion, creating a religiously hostile work environment,” and by “retaliating against him for his protected activity of seeking a religious accommodation.”
“The agency has wholly failed to work in good faith to reasonably accommodate Judge Suttles’ sincerely held religious belief against watching,” the lawsuit reads.
Suttles says he will suffer “irreparable harm” if he’s either forced to watch the video or receive disciplinary action from the SSA.
The judge was previously investigated in 2015 after he mocked a Gulf War veteran for having post-traumatic stress disorder.
