Fire Fighters and a whole new kind of Sexual Harassment:

RMNIXON · 08-08-2007, 03:15 PM

Firefighters objected to gay parade

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Four San Diego firefighters say they were ordered to drive a firetruck in the city’s gay pride parade, enduring both sexual advances and slurs.

The four have asked the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing for permission to file a sexual harassment suit against the Fire-Rescue Department, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Fire Capt. John Ghiotto, Engineer Jason Hewett and firefighters Chad Allison and Alex Kane said they were threatened with discipline when they objected to participating in the parade.

The firefighters are being represented by the Thomas More Center, a Michigan-based group promoting Christian values.

Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the fire department, said a group that volunteered to be in the parade dropped out because of a death in the family and other problems. He said Ghiotto and the others were selected because they work out of a firehouse in the parade neighborhood.

Fire Chief Tracy Jarman said she has apologized to the four firefighters. But she also said the fire department has participated in the gay pride parade for years without problems.

United Press International - NewsTrack - Top News - Firefighters objected to gay parade

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Well, I can't see room for much unexpected outrage over open public sexual remarks and behavior durring a Gay Pride Parade. What do you expect? It has more to do with ordering the men to participate in a very emotionally and politically charged event that has nothing to do with their Community Service as a Fire Department that has me bothered. A very bad call. If nothing happened in years past I would see if any policy of orders was involved and with any previous objections? And if they did were those involved just encouraged to shut up and take their medicine? Live and let live seems to be turning more and more into forced acceptance of behavior or else these days.

Thorgrim · 08-08-2007, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

Firefighters objected to gay parade

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Four San Diego firefighters say they were ordered to drive a firetruck in the city’s gay pride parade, enduring both sexual advances and slurs.

The four have asked the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing for permission to file a sexual harassment suit against the Fire-Rescue Department, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Fire Capt. John Ghiotto, Engineer Jason Hewett and firefighters Chad Allison and Alex Kane said they were threatened with discipline when they objected to participating in the parade.

The firefighters are being represented by the Thomas More Center, a Michigan-based group promoting Christian values.

Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the fire department, said a group that volunteered to be in the parade dropped out because of a death in the family and other problems. He said Ghiotto and the others were selected because they work out of a firehouse in the parade neighborhood.

Fire Chief Tracy Jarman said she has apologized to the four firefighters. But she also said the fire department has participated in the gay pride parade for years without problems.

United Press International - NewsTrack - Top News - Firefighters objected to gay parade

__________________________________________________ ______________

Well, I can't see room for much unexpected outrage over open public sexual remarks and behavior durring a Gay Pride Parade. What do you expect? It has more to do with ordering the men to participate in a very emotionally and politically charged event that has nothing to do with their Community Service as a Fire Department that has me bothered. A very bad call. If nothing happened in years past I would see if any policy of orders was involved and with any previous objections? And if they did were those involved just encouraged to shut up and take their medicine? Live and let live seems to be turning more and more into forced acceptance of behavior or else these days.

Every year I'm forced to endure St Patrick's Day, despite the fact that I'm not one drop Irish and my family (who do not believe in St Patrick) despises drinking, think it's evil and leads to nothing but debt and death...which is what the entire event revolves around

When do we get to cancel all the St. Patrick's Day events?

hsmith · 08-08-2007, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Every year I'm forced to endure St Patrick's Day, despite the fact that I'm not one drop Irish and my family (who do not believe in St Patrick) despises drinking, think it's evil and leads to nothing but debt and death...which is what the entire event revolves around

When do we get to cancel all the St. Patrick's Day events?

Where did they say the parade should be shut down? I missed that in the article or his commentary.

Also, when were you last forced to go to a St. Patrick's parade?

Do tell!

Ardentfrost · 08-08-2007, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Every year I'm forced to endure St Patrick's Day, despite the fact that I'm not one drop Irish and my family (who do not believe in St Patrick) despises drinking, think it's evil and leads to nothing but debt and death...which is what the entire event revolves around

When do we get to cancel all the St. Patrick's Day events?

That is completely irrelevant. You're not ordered, by alternative of discipline, to participate in any St. Patrick's Day activities.

Ardentfrost · 08-08-2007, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by hsmith

Where did they say the parade should be shut down? I missed that in the article or his commentary.

Also, when were you last forced to go to a St. Patrick's parade?

Do tell!

Right, that's what I meant to say... man, I got side tracked and missed my own damn point.

Thorgrim · 08-08-2007, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by hsmith

Where did they say the parade should be shut down? I missed that in the article or his commentary.

Also, when were you last forced to go to a St. Patrick's parade?

Do tell!

They said it should have less community services support

My community forces everyone to chip in via local taxes or other ways to have a St. Patrick's parade

I've seen municipal workers in the St Patrick's Day parade, organized by a city, I may have been forced to partake in such an event in that role

hsmith · 08-08-2007, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

They said it should have less community services support

My community forces everyone to chip in via local taxes or other ways to have a St. Patrick's parade

I've seen municipal workers in the St Patrick's Day parade, organized by a city, I may have been forced to partake in such an event in that role

Where does it say they should have less community support?

and i am sure they really want you in some parade

Scrum · 08-08-2007, 04:48 PM

They should have asked for volunteers or something.

Good luck with a sexual harassment suit though. Nobody who made comments to them were co-workers.

It would be like a waitress suing her boss for sexual harassment because of something a customer said.

hsmith · 08-08-2007, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

They should have asked for volunteers or something.

Good luck with a sexual harassment suit though. Nobody who made comments to them were co-workers.

It would be like a waitress suing her boss for sexual harassment because of something a customer said.

if the boss didn't do anything about it after the waitress complained, they would have a suit

Scrum · 08-08-2007, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by hsmith

if the boss didn't do anything about it after the waitress complained, they would have a suit

According to the article, these guys were harassed after they objected to participating.

Thorgrim · 08-08-2007, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by hsmith

Where does it say they should have less community support?

No firetruck with firemen

They were paid by the city...also, there is a thing called a "sick day" or "family emergency"

You're acting like federal agents dragged and chained them to the fire truck

hsmith · 08-08-2007, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

No firetruck with firemen

They were paid by the city...also, there is a thing called a "sick day" or "family emergency"

You're acting like federal agents dragged and chained them to the fire truck

so you are saying that because the original ones failed to do it and the new ones didn't want to do it because they would be in a situation that would make them feel uncomfortable that they don't want to support the community?

ok

hsmith · 08-08-2007, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

According to the article, these guys were harassed after they objected to participating.

And? They felt they would be in a compromising situation that would make them feel awkward.

The way laws are now, if a manager of a restaurant put a waitress in front of a table that would make her feel that uncomfortable then I wouldn't doubt she could file the same charges.

Scrum · 08-08-2007, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by hsmith

And? They felt they would be in a compromising situation that would make them feel awkward.

The way laws are now, if a manager of a restaurant put a waitress in front of a table that would make her feel that uncomfortable then I wouldn't doubt she could file the same charges.

Life is one large compromising situation.

You can't complain about harassment before it happens.

These guys should get over it. It was a parade. If they can't handle having guys whistle and hoot at them, perhaps they are too fragile to run into burning buildings.

Thorgrim · 08-08-2007, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by hsmith

so you are saying that because the original ones failed to do it and the new ones didn't want to do it because they would be in a situation that would make them feel uncomfortable that they don't want to support the community?

ok

Obviously they were fine with doing it in the end...they lightly objected but they went in the parade

Unions protect firemen if they said they suddenly didn't feel well and wanted to go home

It's a frivolous lawsuit, but you guys are all about supporting that, so go ahead, wish them luck

kinggovernor · 08-08-2007, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

These guys should get over it. It was a parade. If they can't handle having guys whistle and hoot at them, perhaps they are too fragile to run into burning buildings.

by that logic if female firefighters can't handling male firefighters whistling and hooting at them, they should get another job too?

the double standard is strong in this thread.

kinggovernor · 08-08-2007, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Obviously they were fine with doing it in the end...they lightly objected but they went in the parade

Unions protect firemen if they said they suddenly didn't feel well and wanted to go home

It's a frivolous lawsuit, but you guys are all about supporting that, so go ahead, wish them luck

fireman just can't go home if they want to

hsmith · 08-08-2007, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

Life is one large compromising situation.

You can't complain about harassment before it happens.

These guys should get over it. It was a parade. If they can't handle having guys whistle and hoot at them, perhaps they are too fragile to run into burning buildings.

I really fail to see what being in a parade has to do with being a firefighter

hsmith · 08-08-2007, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Obviously they were fine with doing it in the end...they lightly objected but they went in the parade

Unions protect firemen if they said they suddenly didn't feel well and wanted to go home

It's a frivolous lawsuit, but you guys are all about supporting that, so go ahead, wish them luck

They lightly objected? You know this? Really?