MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — “I really enjoy being a firefighter. So I guess that’s the saddest part is that, you know, I really liked what I was doing.”

It was a tearful Kay’ana Adams who spoke to NBC 15 News last year.

Her attorney had filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Mobile… allegations of discrimination because of her religion, race, sex and sexual identity as a lesbian.

Today, Adams learned her case has been dismissed by District Court Judge Kristi Dubose.

A key point in her legal confrontation with the city was a neck tattoo that the Mobile Fire Rescue department said violated its policy.

“To still become a firefighter and to have scoliosis,” Adams told NBC 15 News. “I got the tattoo to kind of tell myself and tell other people that asked me about that, you can still achieve certain goals regardless of the obstacles that are in front of you.”

Adams said, in an effort to comply with department rules, she was growing her hair out to cover it.

But she was terminated a short time later by then public safety director Lawrence Battiste, who said she was let go for “attempting to obstruct a valid order from a superior officer, ignoring orders and using disrespectful and defiant language to a superior officer.”

Adam’s lawsuit also listed startling examples of alleged exchanges between Adams and fellow firefighters… derogatory references to her gender, her sexuality and race.

But today, the judge granted summary judgment to the City.

In short, the judge said Adams was not able to prove her case in court.

In her order, Judge DuBose stated Adams “failed to produce sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to infer that the City discriminated against her” .in both her allegations of discrimination and a hostle work environment.

Judge Dubose also ruled Adams “failed to show a sufficient causal connection between her statutorily protected activity and her termination” that might have proved allegations of retaliation.

In some cases the judge said Adams waited to long to file her complaints after the alleged offenses occurred.

When we talked to Adams last year she told us, in spite of losing her job, she doesn’t regret getting the tattoo.

“I can’t say that I do. My tattoos are an extension of who I am as a person.”

You can read the judge’s decision here: