School counselor's lawsuit alleges gay bias by district

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A lawsuit filed in Omaha by a former guidance counselor says Millard school district officials forced her to quit because of her sexual orientation.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that Jill Stogdill's federal employment discrimination lawsuit says she was pushed out "only because she was viewed by (district officials) as nontypical and engaged in a life relationship with another female."

Millard Public Schools spokeswoman Rebecca Kleeman says the district can't comment on private personnel or student matters but welcomes a legal review.

The lawsuit says efforts to oust Stogdill followed complaints from the parents of a girl Stogdill was counseling while working at Millard South High School. Stogdill says administrators deemed her texts and other activities involving the girl as sexual "grooming" and told her she couldn't be trusted around students.

The lawsuit says other employees who "engaged in one-on-one time with students, including texting, were not punished, they were celebrated."

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The Gayly. May 24, 2018. 11:11 a.m. CST.