A Christian lifeguard who claims he was suspended after refusing to display Pride flags at a California beach is set to go to trial against Los Angeles County, according to his lawyers. 

Jeffrey Little, a veteran captain for the LA County Fire Department's Lifeguard Division, filed a lawsuit against the county in 2024 after he said he would not hang Progress Pride flags while on duty, according to the filing reviewed by the Daily Mail. 

The Progress Pride flag differs from the rainbow Pride flag because it includes other colors that represent more groups, including people of color, as well as the transgender and intersex communities. 

In 2023, the county implemented a new policy that would see Progress Pride flags flown during Pride month at all government facilities. 

The devout Christian argued that the new policy went against his religious beliefs about sexuality and marriage, and that he could not raise it himself or make sure that his subordinates do so, the lawsuit detailed. 

At first, the county accepted his request for a religious exemption, but changed their minds two days later, the filing stated. 

Things grew increasingly intense after Little removed several Pride flags from life guard stations while on duty, resulting in county officials claiming that he violated department rules by ruining government-issued flags without authorization to do so. 

Afterward, Little was investigated and put on a 15-day unpaid suspension, the lawsuit claimed. 

But, according to Little's attorney, Paul Jonna, his client thought he was acting under his accommodation when he took down the Pride flags, and that other Pride flags were removed from the stations earlier that month for the same reason, Fox News Digital reported. 

Jonna told the outlet that other lifeguards who 'vandalized and desecrated' the flag were given shorter suspensions or not disciplined for their actions, unlike his client. 

The suit also alleged that during the incident, Lifeguard Division Chief Fernando Boiteux told Little that his 'religious beliefs do not matter.' 

Little also allegedly faced retaliation, harassment, and discrimination after requesting the religious accommodation, the lawsuit stated. 

Now his case is being prepared for trial following a hearing that took place last week, Jonna told Fox News Digital. 

The decision to do so came after a federal judge issued a sealed ruling both denying and granting in part the county's motion for summary judgment and Little's motion for partial summary judgment, per the outlet. 

The goal of the case is not for the county to get rid of its Pride flag policy, but to allow religious accommodation exempting Little from personally raising the flag or telling others to do so, the Thomas More Society said in a statement. 

'Captain Little asked only that his own sincerely held religious beliefs be respected,' Jonna said. 

'The County’s own records show accommodating him would barely register as a rounding error in its billion-dollar budget. 

'That is exactly the kind of modest, workable accommodation the law requires to ensure our constitutional rights are safeguarded. Here, the Court has an opportunity to make clear that religious beliefs do matter and that the law says so.' 

A trial date has not been officially set as of Tuesday. 

The Daily Mail contacted Thomas More Society and Los Angeles County for comment.