Todd Gloria, the mayor of San Diego, was the target of a lawsuit filed on Wednesday by the county’s human relations director, who was in danger of being fired from the percentage for his contentious remarks about transgender people. Gloria claimed Gloria had treated him unfairly because of his religious convictions.
Dennis Hodges received criticism for not voting with another Human Relations Commission members in favor of a letter denouncing transphobia.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Hodges, a priest of the Church of Yeshua Ha Mashiach in Lemon Grove, explained his acquiescence by citing his Christian values and stating that” transsexuals… is an abomination in God’s eye.”
These comments, along with other reported claims of a similar nature, prompted the committee to vote next month on whether or not to expel Hodges, but not enough votes were cast in favor of it.
Hodges claims in his lawsuit, which was filed on Wednesday in San Diego federal judge, that after the ballot, some of his brother directors persuaded Gloria to reject his appointment to the Citizens Advisory Board on Police/Community Relations earlier this year. Since 2017, Hodges had been a member of that table.
Gloria claims in a memo outlining his choice that Hodges “has made repeated remarks about open comments about LGBTQ people– especially, the trans community,” and that he was unable to support his appointment to the board tasked with fostering good relations between the police force and the community it serves.
Hodges claims that the choice was made” solely on the basis of his transgenderism and human creation values, which are related to his Advisory Board position.”
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages and Hodges ‘ restoration to the Citizens Advisory Board, received no immediate comment from Gloria’s business.
It is unacceptable that people of faith are expressly prohibited from serving in state simply because of their devotion, according to Mariah Gondeiro, one of Hodges ‘ counsel. The president of San Diego needs to answer for his violations of the Constitution.