Bryson Butler has filed a lawsuit against the Washington Department of Corrections and its contractor, American Behavioral Health Systems, for alleged homophobic harassment, discriminatory practices, and coercive religious materials he encountered while completing his mandatory WDOC substance use rehabilitation program.
Butler. an HIV-positive Gay man and Washington resident, alleges he and other participants in the WDOC/ABHS program were subjected to repeated anti-Gay comments, homophobic slurs, false and stigmatizing statements about HIV-positive people, and religious materials that condemned same-sex relationships.
“No one should be forced to endure harassment for their sexual orientation. No one. That includes people trying to get their lives back on track by seeking treatment for substance use disorders,” said Andy Boes, one of Butler’s attorneys.
“Washington taxpayers are funding a program that teaches that same-sex relationships are ‘disgusting’ and that gay men are predators. We must expect better of our public institutions. In fact, our laws demand it.”
Harassment
According to his legal team, Butler was a part of a rehabilitation program in Chehalis County from May 19 to July 24, 2025, in which he encountered numerous instances of anti-Gay and anti-LGBTQIA+ harassment by ABHS staff.
As part of his drug offender sentencing alternative (DOSA), Butler was required to complete a 60-day residential program through ABHS; if deemed noncompliant by ABHS, he would have faced three additional years of incarceration.
Butler alleges that one of his ABHS counselors, during their mandatory meetings, engaged in disparaging comments about LGBTQIA+ people, calling same-sex relationships “weird shit,” and described two men kissing as “disgusting.” The terms “faggot” and “fag” were also allegedly used without reprimand.
As part of these meetings, attendees were also given religious materials that depicted LGBTQIA+ and HIV-positive people in a negative light. One religious comic book allegedly given out, called “Doom Town,” shows HIV-positive people wanting to commit “blood terrorism” and ends with the statement “The ONLY way to escape the sin of homosexuality is through Jesus Christ.”
After reporting the comic to the corrections facility, the lawsuit alleges that “one administrator admitted that the comic had been approved by ABHS and told Mr. Butler that he should not worry about it because he would be completing his treatment soon anyway.”
Julie Kline, another attorney on the case, told the SGN that after Butler reported the incident, he “was immediately retaliated against by ABHS, and call onto the carpet.”
The ABHS counselor also allegedly made false and inflammatory statements about people living with HIV during their meetings. The comments listed in the court filing includes the counselor saying that HIV can be transmitted through sharing the same food and using the same toilet, and that “HIV-positive individuals should be visibly tattooed so they can be identified and avoided.”
Implications
Both Boes and Kline shared their concerns with the SGN on how other people were most likely impacted by ABHS’s harmful anti-LGBTQIA+ programming. Kline described how many inmates like Butler are in a vulnerable position as part of their addiction recovery, and are most likely too scared to report something suspicious, not wanting to rock the boat with their WDOC officer. She also noted the possibility that the WDOC might have known but was complacent due to lack of resources or alternatives.
Some elements of the case are still unknown to Butler’s team. Boes said they are uncertain how long ABHS and its counselors have been contracted by the WDOC to provide their services. But he also said he wouldn’t be surprised if the WDOC didn’t do anything about it and others didn’t speak up about it.
Butler’s team said that they are looking for others who might have also been impacted by this case. Boes said part of the lawsuit’s goal is to stop this from happening to others, and having more than one voice step forward would significantly aid their goal of stopping the ABHS program.
“We hope this didn’t happen to other people,” Boes said.
If you or someone you know received treatment at an ABHS facility or as a part of a court-ordered program and experienced harassment, anti-Gay slurs, anti-LGBTQIA+ instruction, or religious coercion, contact Andy Boes and Julie Kline at (206) 622-8000 or [email protected].
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