Former Grand Junction High School girls basketball coach Sydni Brandon is suing Mesa County Valley School District 51 alleging she was discriminated against for being a woman of color and a lesbian.

A former GJHS standout on the basketball court who later starred for Colorado Mesa University, Brandon was selected as the Tigers’ girls basketball head coach prior to the 2022-2023 season. She was replaced after the 2023-2024 season.

According to a complaint filed in federal court last week, Brandon was treated differently from her white and heterosexual colleagues when she was employed at GJHS as a physical education teacher, basketball coach and assistant track and field coach.

The complaint named D51, as well as Grand Junction High School Principal Jory Sorensen and Assistant Principal J

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