A 61-year-old lesbian firefighter and paramedic, Rebecca Reynolds, is set to receive a $1.3 million settlement from Kansas City, Missouri, after facing more than two decades of workplace discrimination.
The settlement would be the city’s largest ever, as reported by LGBTQ Nation International.
Reynolds, who served for over 21 years, alleged ageist, sexist, and anti-LGBTQ+ harassment from her male colleagues during her career.
Court documents, referenced by The Kansas City Star, indicate that her coworkers regularly belittled and insulted her during emergency calls.
Some allegedly yelled at her in front of patients.
One supervisor reportedly said Reynolds was “not normal” due to her sexual orientation.
In March 2023, Reynolds reportedly experienced physical harassment when a coworker intentionally tripped her, resulting in a knee injury requiring surgery.
Reynolds also alleged that her medical setup was questioned, with one colleague remarking: “That’s why they shouldn’t hire old people.”
While she was on medical leave in September 2023, Reynolds’s office was vandalized.
Items including training books and a bodyboard were urinated on, causing around $3,000 in damage.
DNA from the incident was matched to a colleague, Pleaze Robinson III, who has a criminal history related to road rage.
Robinson was later charged with felony harassment and property damage.
Reynolds filed lawsuits against the city for discrimination based on age, sex, and sexual orientation.
She claimed that the harassment impacted her ability to perform her duties effectively and contributed to a hostile work environment.
The Kansas City Council’s finance committee recommended a $1.3 million settlement, which would be in exchange for Reynolds dropping her lawsuits.
The settlement, if approved, would mark the largest amount ever paid by the city in such cases.
The full council is set to vote on the recommendation.
This case brings attention to long-standing issues of workplace discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and older employees.
Kansas City’s decision to settle could prompt further scrutiny of its workplace practices, particularly within the fire department.
Reynolds’s case is not an isolated incident, as other firefighters have reported similar mistreatment.
As the council deliberates, it may set a precedent for how future complaints are handled.
Rebecca Reynolds, a 61-year-old lesbian firefighter and paramedic, may receive a $1.3 million settlement from Kansas City for enduring 21 years of harassment due to her age, gender, and sexual orientation.
Her allegations include being demeaned by male colleagues, enduring physical harm, and having her office vandalized.
A fellow firefighter, Pleaze Robinson III, was charged with harassment after DNA linked him to the incident.
The city council is expected to vote on the settlement, which would be the largest ever in Kansas City’s history.
Reynolds has agreed to drop her lawsuits in exchange for the payout.
