Pittsburgh’s Human Relations Commission today announced that it found in favor of a dog walker who accused a Department of Public Works (DPW) employee of using a homophobic slur, awarding the complainant $10,000 and ordering improved training in the department.
The case was brought by Michelle Cook, of Sewickley, who said a parks maintenance manager made a reference to her perceived sexual orientation and punched her during a dispute over whether she could walk 12 dogs on a Highland Park hockey court. The 2024 incident led to a two-day hearing of the commission in December.
The commission concluded that the incident constituted discrimination based on presumed sexual orientation through statements and aggression. In addition to $10,000 to address embarrassment and humiliation, the commission ruled that the city must pay Cook’s attorney fees…