Firefighters claim they were sexually harassed at Pride

[NorthCarolina]

Firefighters claim they were sexually harassed at Pride

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • September 3, 2008 - 16:05


Four firefighters in San Diego are claiming they suffered sexual harassment when they were required to take part in the city's Pride parade in 2007.

They have been given the right to take their case to court.

Firefighters Alex Kane and Chad Allison, engineer Jason Hewett and captain John Ghiotto told KGTV that "during the parade, bystanders taunted them with sexually explicit comments and colleagues called to tease them for participating in the event."

Their lawyer claims Pride was a political event and therefore they should not have been ordered to go.

The trial will begin later this month.

More on this story here: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-8894.html

[kestrel91316]

1. I guarantee you these guys are fundie "christians".

[dsc]

2. Honestly I can see this occuring

and I see the firefighters' problem. Switch genders and the outrage would be there. The solution, make it voluntary and offer incentives. I bet they can staff the parade with the firefighters that they need and all will be well.

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. Better solution: people stop acting like idiots at pride parades.

>>>>The solution, make it voluntary and offer incentives. >>>>

Near as I can discern from the not-so-well written article, this assignment comes under the rubric of "public education re. fire safety". GLBT's need such education as much as anyone else. The fact that some people don't feel comfortable with us is beside the point. They shouldn't cash a gov't paycheck if it's that big a deal to them.

That said, it would be great if the harassers could be banned from pride celebrations for all time.

Interesting side note: lawyers for the firefighters plan to contend that pride is a "political" event. Lotsa luck with that.

If only.

[dsc]

7. My best guess is that this is a bit of both

the firefighters behaving like prudes and some people acting like idiots. It is beyond hard to police this given the nature of pride. I think here the only realistic solution is to get firefighters who don't mind the behavior to come.

[Toasterlad]

9. Or, Switch Genders and the Outrage Would Evaporate.

If it were a bunch of WOMEN making innuendos and shamelessly flirting with those oh-so-macho firemen, they would certainly not be complaining about it.

How's about San Diego's Bravest grow a pair and stop dissolving into quivering pools of Massengill just because a few men found them attractive?

[canis_lupus]

3. Perhaps it's a simple misunderstanding

They obviously read too much into it when the bystanders offered to help them with their hoses.

[insleeforprez]

4. Treat the offenders the same as if they were opposite-sex.

Unfortunately, that is unlikely to happen.

[DarkTirade]

5. Wait., why were they forced to participate in this?

I'm a bit confused, this news article is rather short.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. That was my first question, too

I can see situations where they might have been required to attend. The context of the article makes me think that perhaps the city fire department had people handing out pamphlets on fire safety (appropriate, with the Fourth coming just after Pride) or maybe staffing a booth. If so, I don't think they have a legal leg to stand on if they normally do this kind of work at other community events.

[Rowdyboy]

10. Apparently it was department policy at the time, but the policy has now been rescinded....

http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=12967

"The policy that required the firefighters to participate in the parade has since been revised. The fire department now relies on volunteers to participate in parades."

Firefighters should not be forced to march in any parade if they would prefer not to. No one should be forced to march for a cause they don't believe in, especially as a job requirement. I would be miserable if forced by my job to participate in a parade honoring Republicans or the Supreme Court or celebrating conservatism. Why would you even want someone who felt uncomfortable and was being required to be there?

[Toasterlad]

11. I Just Assumed They Were There For Public Safety Reasons

In which case, they should have shut their pie holes and done their jobs, no matter who was flirting with them. But if they were actually ordered to get on a float and ride in the parade, just to be seen...? Can someone explain to me the rationale of FORCING people to march in a parade? I would quit my job in a heartbeat in my boss told me to march in the St. Patty's Day parade*...and I'm Irish.

They should win their lawsuit not for the asinine sexual harassment charges, but because their boss had no business telling them to march ANYWHERE but towards the nearest fire.

*like they'd let me.

[Rowdyboy]

12. Everything depends on what they were required to do.....If its hand out

fire safety pamplets then the firefighters are in the wrong. If its participating in the parade, the city was wrong to force them. Neither article makes it clear. :shrug:

[sui generis]

13. they are SO persecuted.

They should not have been "ordered to participate", I do agree, but those girlie firefighters need to man up and figure out that they weren't being singled out for "sexual harrassment" at a pride parade. I'm sure they've never admired a cheerleader, or if they have they wouldn't consider it sexual harrassment.

Everyone's a fucking "victim", and the worst ones are the ones who enjoy victimizing us.