Helping children is what the Bob Burdette Center is all about -- giving them activities to do after school. But now it's on the receiving end of some serious trouble.
It's now dealing with a lawsuit and will not be receiving thousands of dollars from the city.
Jessica Hudson filed a complaint of discrimination. She was hired as the executive director. Before she even started the job, though, the center fired her.
"The board determined that I was a lesbian based on my Facebook page," Hudson stated in the complaint.
She claims they held an emergency meeting to discuss her sexuality, but never even approached her about it. Since all of this happened, two board members have resigned. In the complaint, Hudson states it's in whole or in part to protest her termination.
"When it comes to violating people's rights because of their sexual preference, the city of Charleston stands firm," Mayor Danny Jones said.
The city was ready to hand over $13,500 in grant money to the center, but that's not the plan now.
"Once we found out this happened; because it violates our ordinances, we had to stop that money," Jones said.
WSAZ tried contacting the Bob Burdette Center for comment, but it was closed Wednesday.
It is clear, though, that the center is fighting back. A hearing to dismiss Hudson's lawsuit is set for Thursday.
Hudson's attorney, Ricklin Brown, said she is able to return to her old job and that if the Bob Burdette Center does give her the position back, he doesn't think she will accept it.
Brown said the lawsuit is more about setting a precedent to make sure this type of discrimination doesn't happen again.
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