The Case Centers on a Religious Accommodation Request

Captain Jeffrey Little, a longtime lifeguard with the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division, sued Los Angeles County in 2024 after objecting to duties connected to flying the Progress Pride flag during Pride Month. Little, who is described as an evangelical Christian, argued that personally raising the flag or ensuring that others raised it would conflict with his religious beliefs.

What Los Angeles County Required

The dispute traces back to a county policy requiring the Progress Pride flag to be flown at county facilities during June. According to reporting on the lawsuit, Little said the county initially gave him an accommodation, then later limited or reversed it. The county’s position is that Little was not disciplined for his religious beliefs, but for removing government-issued Pride flags without authorization and violating department policy.

Why the Case Is Moving Forward

A federal court previously allowed several of Little’s claims to proceed, including claims related to retaliation and religious accommodation. Bloomberg Law reported in 2025 that the court found he could pursue claims that he faced retaliation after seeking a religious accommodation. More recently, the case moved closer to trial after a federal judge issued a sealed ruling granting in part and denying in part competing summary judgment motions.

What the Trial Could Test

The trial is likely to focus on where the legal line falls between a public employer’s workplace policy and an employee’s religious accommodation rights. Little says he is not seeking to end the county’s Pride flag policy, but wants a permanent accommodation that would excuse him from personally raising the flag or directing others to do so. Los Angeles County, by contrast, argues that the discipline was tied to workplace conduct and policy compliance, not religion.

Christian Lifeguard Who Refused Pride Flag Duties and Was Suspended Is Now Headed Toward Trial