A male
firefighter is the latest person to sue the Minneapolis fire
chief, who is a lesbian, claiming that she discriminated
against him because he is a heterosexual man. Elondo
Wright alleges that Bonnie Bleskachek, the city's
first female fire chief, and her partner, a fire
department captain, gave him bad reviews, harassed him, and
denied him advancement opportunities.
Bleskachek
''adamantly'' denied the allegations. She told the
Associated Press on Sunday the claims are based on
rumors. ''I find it troubling,'' she said. ''This is
all based on hurt feelings and conjecture.''
Wright's lawsuit,
filed Thursday in U.S. district court in Minneapolis,
is the fourth against the chief this year, all of which have
alleged various acts of discrimination or harassment.
The lawsuits, two of which have been settled, depict a
woman who let her personal life interfere with work
decisions.
Wright had filed
a complaint with the Minneapolis Department of Civil
Rights, and probable cause was found. But a settlement with
the city wasn't reached, so he sued.
Bleskachek said
she wants a resolution but also wants the facts to come
out. ''I just want this all to be over. I just want to be
free,'' she said. (AP)
