Openly Gay Teacher Sues LAUSD, Alleging Discrimination

The Los Angeles Unified School District is on the receiving end of a $12 million lawsuit brought by an openly identified Lesbian who claims LAUSD “failed to provide” her with “a working environment free from discrimination and harassment.”

Now retired, Cathy Figel, who alleges discrimination based on sexual orientation, taught at Marina Del Rey Middle School for 13 years, according to the law firm representing her, Sawkins & Albert, LLC.

“Ms. Figel was subjected on a continual basis to an unsafe and hostile work environment that included being subjected to anti-gay language, anti-gay graffiti scrawled in her work area, verbal anti-gay slurs by students, exclusion from participating in the school’s coveted Marine Science program, vandalism to her car and even physical violence by a student. While she reported these incidents to the school administration and the LAUSD School Board on numerous occasions, nothing was done to address her grievances and put a stop to the discrimination and harassment. Instead, Ms. Figel was directed by the school administrator that she not openly identify as a Lesbian,” claims her attorney, Florencia Albert.

An LAUSD spokesperson had the following response when contacted for information on the case: “This pending litigation matter was filed in September 2014. The District is committed to ensuring a hostile-free work environment for all employees. The District does not agree with the allegations or characterization of its actions, and is therefore vigorously defending this lawsuit.”

The lawsuit alleges that LAUSD was “complicit in fostering anti-gay practices, as well as willfully ignoring Ms. Figel’s concerns about the unsafe environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals at Marina Del Rey Middle School.”

Figel also claims she was forced to retire.

“Teaching is the passion of my life, but I was no longer able to safely teach,” said Figel. “It is incredibly sad that LAUSD does not provide a safe teaching and learning environment for members of the LGBT community at Marina Del Rey middle school. I know what it is like to be that child in school scared of the harm that might come to you because you are different. I feel that I need to do my best to help the children who are like me.”

Said Cecily Myart-Cruz, United Teachers Los Angeles vice president, “Creating safe schools for LGBT students, staff and their families is part of UTLA’s campaign ‘The Schools LA Students Deserve.’ UTLA stands with Ms. Figel in this lawsuit to create safe learning and working environments for our LGBT community.”