Lesbian can sue UW for job discrimination, court rules

A lesbian who sued the University of Washington after her boss told her not to "flaunt" her sexual orientation has grounds for a discrimination complaint, the state Court of Appeals ruled Monday.

The decision was a reversal of a lower court's dismissal of the case.

Debra Loeffelholz, a program manager at the UW's asbestos department, sued the school in 2009, alleging a hostile work environment from 2003 to 2006.

She said her boss, James Lukeheart, had asked her if she was gay soon after she was hired. When Loeffelholz said yes, Lukeheart said he was okay with it.

But he added, "I just don't want you to flaunt it. I don't want any of that in my face," Loeffelholz said in her complaint.