Santerian Says School Discriminated

July 15, 2009

Author: Elizabeth Banicki

Source: Courthouse News Service

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/07/15/Santerian_Says_School_Discriminated.htm

A charter school in San Marcos discriminated against its registrar because of her Santeria religion, the woman claims in Superior Court. She claims a school director refused to rein in the harassment, which increased after she took time off to go to a Santeria event in Miami.

Beth Riddle-Lucia says the Bayshore Prep school in San Marcos Unified School District hired her in 2006, and was aware that she had medical issues and that she practiced Santeria.

Santeria, an Afro-Caribbean religion, has made the news repeatedly, as its rites can include animal sacrifice.

Riddle-Lucia says co-workers mocked her for her hair covering and jewelry, which are required by her religion. She says she complain[ed] to a school director, Jayna Gaskell, who told her that [he] could not control what other employees did, and left it at that.