Lesbian Ex-Officer Awarded $2.6 Million in Ohio Sex Bias Suit

A gay female former Ohio State Patrol officer who was fired for her allegedly prohibited tattoo was awarded $2.6 million in damages in her sexual orientation discrimination lawsuit on Tuesday.

The jury issued the verdict in favor of Stacey Arnold Yerkes after a seven-day trial in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

After complaining of sex and sexual orientation discrimination, she was charged with violating the patrol’s tattoo policy and given the choice of either being terminated or signing a last chance agreement. She retired instead because the agreement would have demoted her, diminished her job ...