Rebecca Reynolds, a Kansas City firefighter and medic, has been awarded a $1.3 million settlement after enduring over two decades of harassment and abuse from her male colleagues and superiors. This payout, the largest discrimination settlement in the history of the Kansas City Fire Department, was recommended by the City Council’s finance committee on Tuesday, September 24, and approved on Thursday, September 26.

Reynolds, who graduated from the fire academy at age 40, served as both a medic and firefighter at various stations around the city. During her 21-year career, she was frequently targeted due to her sexual orientation, as a lesbian, and her age.

The abuse was so severe that she filed two lawsuits against the department, detailing the discrimination she faced. Reynolds claimed that the demeaning comments even sometimes occurred in front of patients, including examples in which she was told by superiors she was “not normal” because of her sexual orientation.

One particular incident of harassment involved a fellow firefighter urinating in her office while she was on extended medical leave. DNA testing confirmed the urine belonged to firefighter Pleaze Robinson III.

The Kansas City Star previously reported on Robinson in 2019 when he was charged with third-degree assault for body-slamming a woman to the pavement and punching her at least 30 times during an alleged road rage incident. In that case, Robinson pled guilty and received probation, but has remained employed as a firefighter.

As part of the settlement agreement, Reynolds will drop her lawsuits and has agreed not to file any further claims. She will also resign from her position as a Kansas City firefighter and medic, a decision that was not her choice. Reflecting on her forced departure, Reynolds stated, “I have a valuable skill set that benefits my community and I leave proud of the job I did.”

Missouri state law does not currently prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, despite repeated attempts by lawmakers over the past 25 years to introduce these protections. This gap in legal protections made Reynolds’ victory even more significant.