Naasik A. Fuller, a nonbinary former employee of Mazzoni Center, has filed a federal antibias lawsuit against the LGBTQ-oriented health and wellness agency, claiming racial bias and other wrongdoing caused them to be fired.
Fuller, 32, of South Philadelphia, filed suit on Jan. 17. Their case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Gerald A. McHugh and Fuller is seeking more than $150,000 in damages. A jury trial has been requested.
For about five months, Fuller worked at the center’s Bainbridge Street office as a community health worker/care coordinator. Fuller earned about $344 weekly at Mazzoni until June 2023, when they were fired.
Fuller maintains they tried their best to excel at Mazzoni while also raising awareness about alleged deficiencies within the agency. But obstacles allegedly were placed in Fuller’s way that prevented them from doing so.
Fuller’s lawsuit alleges Mazzoni treated them in a biased manner due to their race (African American), nonbinary status and neurodivergent status.
According to Fuller’s lawsuit, they didn’t get along with their immediate supervisor at Mazzoni. Fuller alleges the supervisor was frequently absent for frivolous reasons. When the supervisor was present at Mazzoni, she declined to provide Fuller with the necessary information and resources to do their job.
Fuller also alleges Mazzoni and other service organizations in the Gayborhood have been plagued with racism for a lengthy period of time, and alleged racism played a significant role in Fuller’s firing.
“Mx. Fuller would not have received unfair treatment and would not have been discriminated against and terminated if not for Mazzoni Center’s bias toward people of color — and while Mazzoni Center claims to have the facilities that would prevent this from happening, Mazzoni Center intentionally discriminated against and harmed Mx. Fuller,” the lawsuit alleges.
Additionally, Fuller alleges that Mazzoni staffers failed to accommodate Fuller’s neurodivergent status. Rather than being sensitive regarding Fuller’s health challenges, Mazzoni staffers treated them in a condescending manner, according to Fuller’s complaint.
Moreover, Fuller contends they were fired without adequate warning, after reaching out to multiple high-level individuals within the organization for assistance.
Fuller was terminated on June 12, 2023, for reasons that were pretextual to hide discriminatory intent, according to Fuller’s complaint.
“Mazzoni Center wrongfully terminated Mx. Fuller based on sex, race, color, disability; in retaliation for [opposing mistreatment]; and in retaliation for Mx. Fuller’s requests for reasonable accommodations on account of disability,” Fuller’s lawsuit alleges.
Fuller’s lawsuit seeks a judicial order that Mazzoni post a notice regarding the litigation’s ultimate verdict; provide a neutral employment reference for Fuller; conduct sensitivity training for all of its workers; and conduct implicit-bias training for all of its workers.
On Nov. 17, 2023, Fuller attended a state Unemployment Compensation hearing, seeking unemployment benefits due to their firing at Mazzoni. However, Mazzoni opposed Fuller’s request, claiming Fuller was disruptive at Mazzoni and violated numerous job expectations. Fuller’s alleged violations include disrespect, lack of dignity, lack of sensitivity and insubordination.
An unemployment-compensation referee denied Fuller’s request for unemployment benefits. But Fuller is appealing the denial at the state Unemployment Compensation Board of Review.
Neither side had a comment for this story.