Alabama firefighter Kay’Ana Adams was fired after her superiors determined that her tattoo violated department policy. According to WKRG reports, Adams worked at the Mobile Fire Department’s Maryvale station for nine months before she was fired.
The woman had tattooed the back of her head last June, believing she was not violating any regulations.
“Hiring people before, during and after me with neck tattoos more prominent than mine was also kind of impactful in that as well,” Adams told WKRG. “I figured mine could be done in decency and order. I could also, based off the rules, cover it up.”
At first, the African American employee was allowed to grow her hair so that it would cover the tattoo. Later, however, the department objected to her haircut as well. “We have different textures of hair,” said Adams, “So, you have no idea how long it takes for my hair to grow.”
According to the woman, the department changed its internal policy three months after her tattoo. The new regulation now also prohibits head tattoos. When a station captain took a photo of the back of Adams’ head on Nov. 10, the fired firefighter claimed that her tattoo was no longer visible. However, she claimed that she was fired on the very day the photo was taken.
“Definitely blindsided, I never thought it would come to this”, Adams said, “especially considering I was in compliance. I’m not necessarily out here trying to be disobedient and I’m not breaking any laws or anything like that, it’s just a tattoo. What’s behind me shouldn’t affect the work that’s in front of me.”
However, the woman is convinced that in fact the dismissal was not dictated by the tattoo. The now former firefighter believes she was fired because she had filed a number of harassment and hostile workplace complaints in the past, including about sexist statements she allegedly heard from two firefighters at her station.
Adams said she reported her concerns to Captain Jason Craig and Captain Rodrick Shoots, members of the Black Progressive Firefighters Association. The two were both disciplined after defending their colleague over the tattoo affair.
