PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The former chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for Philadelphia has sued the city for discrimination and harassment.
Brandee Anderson accused the Parker administration of engaging in a "sustained effort" to suppress DEI activity, including directives to “stand down.”
Anderson claimed in the lawsuit that Mayor Cherelle Parker told her that she did not care about Anderson's "DEI ideology," and instead only cared about minority business.
She said she was fired after reporting an instance of sexual harassment involving her supervisor, then-Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Dailey.
In the lawsuit, Anderson said that Tyrell Brown, director of LGBTQ+ Affairs at the time, told her Dailey had sent a sexual image through a dating app called Sniffies on July 2, 2025. She then reported the incident to Human Resources.
Anderson said members of the administration retaliated against her, and that they specifically cited the HR investigation as the reason she was removed from a public speaking panel set for July 15, 2025. She was fired on July 22, 2025.
According to Anderson’s termination letter, the decision was due to her “recent conduct, judgment lapses, and confirmed violations of the City’s Sexual Harassment Policy.”
The lawsuit notes that Anderson, who is a Black woman, was terminated, while Dailey, a white man, was "transferred laterally" with no loss of compensation.
Anderson said that after her firing, members of the Parker administration disparaged her in interviews with the Inquirer and radio station WDAS 105.3 FM.
The Parker administration has declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Brandee Anderson said the Parker Administration retaliated against her for reporting sexual harassment, and engaged in a “sustained effort” to suppress DEI activity.
Brandee Anderson said the Parker Administration retaliated against her for reporting sexual harassment, and engaged in a “sustained effort” to suppress DEI activity.
