Nashville Tennessean
The former deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services says his former boss, then-Commissioner Courtney Rogers, made homophobic comments about him, including that he was a "closeted homosexual" whose marriage to a woman was a sham.
Tilman Goins, who resigned Nov. 25 as second-in-command at veterans department following human resources investigations into both him and Rogers, made the allegations in a lawsuit filed in Davidson County Chancery Court against the state last month. In the lawsuit, Goins says he was the victim of sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation while employed with the department.
Rogers resigned the same day as Goins. Human resources records previously obtained by The Tennessean showed state investigators found the former commissioner subjected employees to abusive behavior and made racist remarks during her tenure. A separate HR investigation summary on Goins said he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate at the department, according to state records.