Mississippi Corrections Officer Fired for Being Gay, is Reinstated
Andre Cooley, a corrections officer in Mississippi's Forrest County, who was fired after supervisors discovered he is gay, will be reinstated as part of a settlement in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU last October, the Hattiesburg American reports:
As part of the settlement agreement reached today, the sheriff’s department will also update its written non-discrimination policy to make explicit that the sheriff’s department does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
“I am looking forward to returning to a job that I loved in the sheriff’s department,” Cooley said. “I’m very happy that the sheriff’s department has clarified in writing that they do not discriminate based on sexual orientation. Everyone should be judged by their ability to do the job, not by their sexual orientation.”
“We are happy to have Mr. Cooley return to work in the department. His sexual orientation has no bearing on his ability to perform the duties of a corrections officer,” said Sheriff Billy McGee. “The Forrest County Sheriff’s Department is an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate based on sexual orientation. Our new written policy will make this position clear to every employee in our department.”
The settlement includes a monetary element as well, which has not been disclosed.
Watch an ACLU interview with Cooley conducted last October, AFTER THE JUMP...
I have a feeling his co-workers and the prisoners will make his job a living hell. He should have opted for a settlement that would assure a nice early retirement instead of a return to the job that discriminated against him in the first place.
Posted by: Bob R | Mar 29, 2011 10:26:55 AM
Do people lurk here for the specific purpose of posting the worst possible thing they can make up?
Is it not REMOTELY possible that nobody at his job is in a hurry to get into a legal battle with someone who just brought national attention upon them, kicked their asses and took their money? How could that not, in fact, be the MOST likely scenario?
Could the message here POSSIBLY be that it's good to stand up for yourself and demand justice? You know, considering that he won EVERYTHING he wanted? How on Earth should that be construed as a loss or a warning to others to not demand justice for themselves?
Congratulations, Mr. Cooley, and take that, bigots!
Posted by: justme | Mar 29, 2011 10:40:16 AM
I heard about this case a while back and I'm glad to hear he won his lawsuit. But going back to work for the SAME Mississippi sheriff who fired him in the first place?
Mississippi is the most backwards state in the United States. I wish he had won enough money to leave Mississippi and start a new life in a more progressive part of the country. But I'm glad he won and I wish him the best.
Posted by: elg | Mar 29, 2011 10:43:12 AM
This guy may very well have a perfectly contented life in Mississippi minus his job woes.
Good for him for getting this settlement agreement. Too bad the average person has few legal rights vis-a-vis their employer.
Posted by: ratbastard | Mar 29, 2011 5:30:39 PM
@RATBASTARD Expect even less rights once the republicans get through with their agenda.
Posted by: jamal | Mar 30, 2011 9:52:06 AM
yes you are right i really agree with your comments thanks for join this post with us ....
Posted by: Hockey jerseys | Sep 27, 2011 1:18:03 AM