Сотрудник очистных сооружений Гранд-Айленда подал в суд на город из-за гомофобных преследований и дискриминации по инвалидности

A longtime Grand Island wastewater plant employee alleges years of anti-gay harassment, retaliation, and disability discrimination. An employee at a wastewater treatment plant in suburban Buffalo has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that he was discriminated against because he is gay. Timothy Burns, who has worked full time at Grand Island’s wastewater treatment plant since 2011, claims the harassment and discriminatory treatment began in 2020, according to Buffalo CBS affiliate WIVB. After learning of Burns’ sexual orientation, one of his co-workers “abruptly ceased communicating with [him], deliberately avoided him in the workplace, refused to enter shared spaces while Plaintiff was present, and isolated Plaintiff in a work environment where communication and coordination were essential to safe plant operations,” the lawsuit claims. The co-worker’s negative reaction was so noticeable that other employees asked Burns about it. After Burns married his husband in August 2021, another employee mentioned the marriage at work, and the co-worker allegedly responded by making vomiting noises. The lawsuit also claims that a separate co-worker disparaged Burns with “overtly homophobic slurs” and attacks on his competence. That same co-worker allegedly filed a false report with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) spill line, claiming that Burns had discharged sludge into a storm sewer leading to a nearby creek and wildlife preserve. The DEC investigated and found that a small sludge spill had remained on site, never entered the stormwater system, and posed no environmental threat. Despite the DEC’s findings, the spill accusation caused Burns “reputational harm, regulatory scrutiny, and risk to his professional license,” the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit further alleges that the co-worker was allowed to resign in March 2025 rather than be fired despite his poor job performance. Meanwhile, Burns claims the town of Grand Island passed him over for advancement despite his licensing qualifications while promoting less-qualified employees. Burns, who has a disability, claims his physical symptoms, including severe nosebleeds, worsened because of the work environment and the stress he endured. In September 2024, he began regularly using a disability parking placard at work, which allegedly led to further harassment, retaliation, and discrimination. In addition to the town of Grand Island, Burns’ lawsuit names his supervisor, Town Engineer Robert Westfall; Town Supervisor Peter Marston; and Town Councilmember Thomas Digati as defendants in both their individual and official capacities. Burns has requested a jury trial and seeks a declaration that the defendants violated his rights as both a gay man and a disabled person under federal and state law. He is also seeking compensatory and emotional distress damages, back pay, front pay, attorneys’ fees, and any other relief the court deems appropriate. Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!