ORLAND, Ill. — A veteran Ill. female firefighter has filed a complaint against her fire district, alleging that by be being a woman, she was targeted for discrimination and retaliation in her department.
Lt. Terrie Simone-Lorenz is one of the district’s more than 100 firefighters, according to the Chicago Tribune.
She claims that she has dealt with gender discrimination and a hostile work environment for most of her time with the Orland Fire Protection District.
The fire district’s attorney James Roche said the district “vehemently denies the allegations contained in the complaint and looks forward to our day in court.”
Firefighter Simone-Lorenz alleges that pornographic material was left in women’s bathroom and sexual rumors were spread about her.
“She has complained on numerous occasions,” said her attorney Dana Kurtz. “The district has done nothing in response, has done no investigation into any of the conduct or taken any steps to remedy it.”
During training drills, Firefighter Simone-Lorenz says that she was singled out and shunned while her fellow firefighters were encouraged to the do the same. She also claims that when she started to complain, the department tried to fire her.
Firefighter Simone-Lorenz believes the alleged targeted behavior is because of her union affiliation with a new Fire District administration.
The Tribune reports that Firefighter Simone-Lorenz has had issues with the district before, after complaints were filed about her following an incident where she made an obscene gesture to another firefighter while off duty.