JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) -- A Virginia man has filed a federal lawsuit that claims Johnson City police discriminated against him during an undercover investigation into public sex in parks that led to the arrest of 40 men.

Most of those arrested in the sex sting last fall were charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.

Kenneth Giles, of Bristol, Va., filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Greeneville, Tenn., on Tuesday, which alleges police discriminated against Giles because they believed he was gay or bisexual.

Giles' attorney, Greg Nevins, says police took "extraordinary measures to publicize their arrests," including sending out a news release of the arrests, photographs, their names and addresses.

Police Chief John Lowry declined to comment on the suit.

Giles seeks unspecified compensation for embarrassment and loss of his job as well as punitive damages.

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