A Christian pastor who was denied reappointment to San Diego’s Citizens Advisory Board on Police/Community Relations has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Todd Gloria alleging religious discrimination.
Dennis Hodges was first appointed to the board in 2017. The role was fitting. For three decades, Hodges had worked for the Department of Corrections.
But Hodges ran into controversy while serving on another board, the San Diego Human Relations Commission. He abstained from a vote expressing support for the transgender community because, as he says, it conflicted with his Biblical beliefs.
In explaining his position, Hodges used inflammatory language, calling "transgenderism ... an abomination in the eyes of God.” Several Commission members attempted to have Hodges removed unsuccessfully. They then lobbied Gloria to veto Hodges’ reappointment to the advisory board, according to the suit. Gloria obliged.
Hodges’ attorney paints the issue as a case of religious discrimination.
“No public servant can be removed from their position for comments they’ve made related to their religious beliefs or actions that they’ve taken because of their religious beliefs,” said Fleischer. She called her client “a dedicated public servant” and accused Gloria of using his authority to punish Hodges for his beliefs.
Read more at NBC San Diego.