A lesbian National Guard in West Virginia has filed a lawsuit alleging ongoing discrimination and harassment against her by the Air National Guard.
The LGBTQ rights advocacy group Fairness West Virginia reported that Technical Sergeant Kristin Kingrey– who has served with the Air National Guard for approximately 14 years– filed the case on November 23.
Discrimination against a lesbian National Guard
In the complaint filed by Kingrey, she was allegedly told by her supervisors that her career would “suffer” if she didn’t wear makeup and grow her hair long.
“It was just wrong. My outward appearance has nothing to do with my work ethic, with who I am as a person or with my character,” Kingrey said.
Kingrey was also forced into wearing a woman’s Honor Guard jacket in front of others to “confirm that none of the women’s sizes would fit.”
Meanwhile, her colleagues and supervisors allegedly spread rumors of her “transitioning from female to male.”
Because she was harassed about the length of her hair, she had to carry around instructions on how the length of her hair was not in violation of the Air Force.
She also faced hiring discrimination with her superiors refusing to honor a hiring decision after she was deployed, encountering medical problems, and not changing her appearance.
Air National Guard reacts to discrimination suit
Kingrey is being represented by the Charleston firm Hissam Forman Donovan Ritchie PLLC in the case, which alleges that the National Guard violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
In reaction to the lawsuit, Major Holli Nelson of the West Virginia Air National Guard (WVNG) said they are “fully committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce free from harassment.”
In an email, Nelson further said that as a matter of policy, they don’t comment on matters that are pending in litigation.
However, an “outside agency” charged with conducting an investigation came up with an report, and “it was determined that no discrimination and/or harassment occurred,” Nelson said.
“As such, we are continuing the process to present the facts to fully resolve this matter in the court system,” the spokesperson added.
The discrimination faced by the LGBTQ community
Fairness West Virginia spoke out in support of Kingrey, and pointed out the years of service she’s given to her country.
“No one should have to go through the kind of harassment and discrimination Technical Sgt. Kingrey faced over the years,” said Andrew Schneider, executive director of Fairness West Virginia.
“This is someone who has devoted her life to serving her country and her state, and this is how she’s treated? We’re better than this,” Schneider said.
He further noted that if members of the National Guard can face this kind of harassment, this would likely happen to other LGBTQ people in the state.
Because of this, he called on the state to pass the Fairness Act and for Congress to pass the Equality Act.