Lambda Legal—a group devoted to defending the civil rights of the LGBT and HIV communities through impact litigation, education and public policy work—is in the corner of Dr. Richard Mitchell in his fight against the Bremen Community High School District No. 228 and its president, Evelyn Gleason.
Mitchell, a superintendent for district who is currently suspended (with pay), was let go by the school board after heavy criticism of of a video spoof he made that lampooned new teachers.
However, it is Mitchell’s contention that the board suspended him because he is gay. Among other things, he says that Gleason encouraged the board not to hire Mitchell after his initial interview because of his sexual orientation, according to a statement from Lambda Legal. Lambda Legal is arguing that the actions taken against Mitchell are illegal under the Illinois Human Rights Act, which protects employees from being fired for their sexual orientation or gender identity and also from being retaliated against when they exercise their rights under the Act.
However, according to an article in the Chicago Daily Southtown, there is a five-page letter signed by an assistant superintendent and all four high school principals that accuse Mitchell of offenses including public drunkenness and intimidation.
Jim Madigan of Lambda Legal told Windy City Times that no legal action has been taken. ‘We have not filed yet. We went to the school board meeting last Tuesday and gave us for the first time a set of charges for termination and they also scheduled a future hearing,’ he said. ‘No final action was taken against Mitchell. The hearing the board still has not scheduled and they have not yet responded to inquiries [regarding when it will happen]. We have not committed to filing anything yet because we’ve found out about this subsequent hearing. We’re going to see where things go.’
The school district is based in Midlothian and includes Bremen, Hillcrest, Tinley Park and Oak Forest high schools.