A British employment tribunal ruled Wednesday that the Ministry of Defense must pay heavy damages to a lesbian soldier harassed by a male colleague. The tribunal found that Lance Bombardier Kerry Fletcher is entitled to almost $290,000, the BBC reported.
“This is as severe a case of victimization following an allegation of sexual harassment as one could see in an employment tribunal,” the ruling said. “The claimant was subjected to a sustained campaign of victimization over a lengthy period. The victimization extended to imposition of disciplinary sanctions, impinging the claimant’s mental stability and obstructing her transfer to a more suitable posting.”
Fletcher, 32, who is open about her sexual orientation, has served for more than a decade in the Royal Artillery. She testified in 2007 that a staff sergeant at a stables in North Yorkshire began a campaign of harassment that included sexual invitations and explicit text messages, the BBC said. When she rejected his advances and complained to superiors, the sergeant and others destroyed her career, she said.
Fletcher submitted her resignation from the army in February, effective next year, the BBC said.
“This is as severe a case of victimization following an allegation of sexual harassment as one could see in an employment tribunal,” the ruling said. “The claimant was subjected to a sustained campaign of victimization over a lengthy period. The victimization extended to imposition of disciplinary sanctions, impinging the claimant’s mental stability and obstructing her transfer to a more suitable posting.”
Fletcher, 32, who is open about her sexual orientation, has served for more than a decade in the Royal Artillery. She testified in 2007 that a staff sergeant at a stables in North Yorkshire began a campaign of harassment that included sexual invitations and explicit text messages, the BBC said. When she rejected his advances and complained to superiors, the sergeant and others destroyed her career, she said.
Fletcher submitted her resignation from the army in February, effective next year, the BBC said.
I LOVE EVERYBODY AS DOES JESUS.HE NEVER SAID ONE WORD ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY.GOD SENT NOT JESUS INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD.JESUS WAS PERSECUTED AND SO AM I TO THIS DAY.I AM FALSELY ACCUSED OF BEING GAY BY REDNECKS. JESUS AND CHRISTIANS ARE OFTEN VERY DIFFERENT.GOD DID NOT TELL THE CHRISTIANS TO START THE CRUSADES OF THE 1300S. GOD FURTHERMORE DOES NOT SANCTION OR CONDONE PERSECUTION OF GAYS. I DO NOT FORCE MY SEXUAL VIEWS ON ANYBODY.ANYONE WHO IS NOT LOVING AND KIND IS NOT A CHRISTIAN.PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS REFLECT BADLY ON JESUS.I FEEL CERTAIN GOD WILL PUNISH THE PEOPLE BOTHERING YOU IN TIME.GOD IS THE FATHER OF ALL SPIRITS AND HE LOVES ALL HIS CREATION.
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