QuickTake:

John Gangl, a former eight-year employee of the Lane Transit District, says in a lawsuit he was subjected to homophobic slurs from managers before he was fired. 

A former employee of Lane Transit District has filed a $1.2 million discrimination lawsuit against the agency, alleging he faced “homophobic epithets” from the agency’s management before he was fired.

John Gangl, an eight-year employee of the district, worked at the agency from 2016 to 2024, mostly as a bus operator and instructor. He filed his lawsuit Friday, Nov. 6, in Lane County Circuit Court.

Gangl is gay and his employer was aware of his sexual orientation when the alleged discrimination took place, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit’s defendants are the transit district and three current or former managers at the district: Jake McCallum, Michelle Peterson and Josh Schmit. 

“LTD, acting through its management, subjected Plaintiff to unwelcome derogatory treatment connected to his sexual orientation, investigated and disciplined him differently, placed him on administrative leave, and terminated his employment because of his sexual orientation, in whole or in part,” the lawsuit said. 

Among the allegations: 

McCallum, the former director of operations, used “homophobic epithets” about him and also participated in an investigation and disciplinary treatment of Gangl. 

From 2022 to 2024, McCallum and Schmit, the public safety manager, referred to Gangl using homophobic slurs and derogatory terms, the lawsuit alleges.

Anni Katz, the district’s public information officer, declined to comment on the lawsuit. Katz also refused to answer a question about Schmit’s status as an employee at the transit district when a reporter pointed out Schmit’s name is listed on the district’s website and asked if that information is still accurate. 

“Plaintiff experienced differential scrutiny and treatment by LTD management,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiff maintains that the animus described above affected the terms and conditions of his employment and contributed to the decision to remove him from work and ultimately terminate him.”

Gangl’s lawsuit said that managers, not rank-and-file employees, subjected him to “derogatory, sexually explicit and homophobic language.”

In April 2024, Gangl met with senior managers, including Peterson, the former human resources director at the district, and reported workplace harassment, discriminatory treatment and retaliation he believed was unlawful, the lawsuit said. At the time, Peterson said she would recuse herself from the investigation because of her involvement but continued to stay in the meeting and take notes, the lawsuit said. 

Later that month, LTD placed Gangl on paid administrative leave without a “substantive explanation” of the allegations under investigation, the lawsuit said. 

The district investigated allegations that Gangl engaged in inappropriate workplace communications and conduct, which he disputed, the lawsuit said. Gangl also alleges the district failed to take his explanations and exculpatory information into account. 

While he was on paid administrative leave, LTD in July 2024 conducted a meeting addressing “alleged incidents” about him that spanned years. During that time, Gangl also filed a workers compensation claim. 

“Plaintiff responded to the accusations,” the lawsuit said. “He contends LTD disregarded material explanations and imposed a level of scrutiny and discipline not consistently applied to other employees.”

Despite recusing herself earlier, Peterson participated in planning Gangl’s termination, including a September 2024 communication to information-technology personnel about ending his system access, the lawsuit said.

In September 2024, LTD terminated Gangl, saying the decision was based on “alleged misconduct,” the lawsuit said. 

“Plaintiff disputes that the stated grounds, as investigated and applied, provide the actual or complete explanation for the discipline,” the lawsuit said. “He alleges that his sexual orientation, opposition to unlawful discrimination, and pursuit of workers’ compensation benefits were substantial factors, individually or in combination, in LTD’s termination decision.”

The lawsuit seeks $250,000 in economic losses, including lost earnings and benefits; $950,000 in noneconomic damages, including humiliation, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. 

Gangl is active in labor, serving as president of Lane County Central Labor Chapter of the Oregon Labor Federation, and recording secretary of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, which represents transit district employees. 

In a statement, Gangl said he appreciates the support of his co-workers.

“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.”

Ben Botkin covers politics and policy in Lane County. He has worked as a journalist since 2003, most recently at the Oregon Capital Chronicle, where he covered justice, health and human services and documented regional efforts to combat fentanyl addiction. Botkin has worked in statehouses in Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and, of course, Oregon. When he's not working, you'll find him road tripping across the West, hiking or surfing along the Oregon Coast.