Pioneer Female FDNY FF Sues Over Sex Harrasment

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FIREWOMAN SUES OVER 'SEX HARASS'

By HEATHER GILMORE

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November 20, 2005 -- A pioneering female firefighter is suing the FDNY for $10 million, saying she was forced to retire from her beloved job after years of mental and emotional anguish at the hands of sexist co-workers.

Judith Beyar, 50, a married mom who sued the FDNY last year over claims she was denied promotions because of her gender, asked for the damages in her latest filing in Brooklyn federal court last week.

Among a litany of new charges, court papers described a constant barrage of gibes aimed at her sexuality.

She said the abuse she suffered for years in the male-dominated department only got worse after she began filing discrimination complaints and the federal lawsuit — and finally culminated in her prematurely pulling the plug on a 25-year career in August.

One painful episode occurred in 2000, when Beyar arrived at her office in Division 8 headquarters in Brooklyn with her daughter to find a picture taken at a recent staff party hanging in the kitchen.

"In the picture, it appeared that someone had either drawn an arrow or a p**** up towards [beyar's] crotch," the suit states.

On another occasion, the suit states, a chief "greeted all the staff including [beyar] by saying words to the effect, 'Good morning, gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen.' "

Soon after, a colleague took a phone call for Beyar from a female worker at the Chamber of Commerce.

The papers state that the firefighter, identified only as Picciano, told the married Beyar that the caller was cute and she should "ask her out on a date."

On another occasion, the suit alleges, Lt. Jon Cisek received a phone call from his wife and turned to Beyar and said, "It's my wife, not yours."

A lawyer for the FDNY denied all the allegations in court papers but would not comment further.

Beyar, of Staten Island, also refused to comment. She was one of the first 11 female fighters employed in November 1980.