John Gangl, who worked for Lane Transit District (LTD) for eight years as a bus operator and instructor, filed a $1.2 million discrimination lawsuit in Lane County Circuit Court on Nov. 6. The complaint alleges that LTD’s management subjected him to repeated homophobic epithets, applied a different standard of investigation and discipline, placed him on paid administrative leave without a clear explanation, and ultimately terminated his employment because of his sexual orientation.
Allegations against senior managers
The suit names three current or former LTD managers as defendants: former director of operations Jake McCallum, former human‑resources director Michelle Peterson, and public‑safety manager Josh Schmit. According to the filing, McCallum used homophobic slurs about Gangl and participated in the investigation that led to his discipline. From 2022 to 2024, both McCallum and Schmit allegedly referred to Gangl with derogatory language.
Claims of unequal treatment
Gangl’s complaint states that managers, not rank‑and‑file employees, directed “derogatory, sexually explicit and homophobic language” toward him. In April 2024 he met with senior managers, including Peterson, to report workplace harassment, discriminatory treatment, and retaliation he believed to be unlawful. Peterson said she would recuse herself from the investigation but remained in the meeting and took notes, the lawsuit says.
Later that month, LTD placed Gangl on paid administrative leave without a substantive explanation of the allegations under investigation. While on leave, the district conducted a July 2024 meeting to address “alleged incidents” spanning several years. During this period, Gangl also filed a workers‑compensation claim.
Termination and alleged motives
In September 2024, LTD terminated Gangl, citing “alleged misconduct.” The lawsuit contends that the stated grounds do not fully explain the discipline and that Gangl’s sexual orientation, his opposition to unlawful discrimination, and his pursuit of workers‑compensation benefits were substantial factors—individually or together—in the decision to fire him.
The complaint seeks $250,000 in economic losses, including lost earnings and benefits, and $950,000 in noneconomic damages for humiliation, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Agency response and union support
LTD’s public information officer, Anni Katz, declined to comment on the lawsuit and did not answer a reporter’s question about Schmit’s current employment status. The agency has not provided a public statement addressing the specific allegations.
Gangl, who serves as president of the Lane County Central Labor Chapter of the Oregon Labor Federation and as recording secretary of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, said he appreciates the backing of his fellow union members. “I was elected by the union members at LTD,” he said. “They stood behind me even when LTD was in the process of defaming me and trying to build up a case to get rid of me. Since then, I’ve continued to work on behalf of the members of LTD and also working in the Lane County Central Labor Chapter to make the workplace a better and healthier place for all.”
Context
The lawsuit adds to ongoing debates about workplace discrimination and the responsibilities of public‑sector employers to uphold fair treatment for all employees, regardless of sexual orientation. While the case is pending, it highlights the importance of transparent investigations and consistent disciplinary practices within government‑run transit agencies.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
