Comments on: Firefighters sue San Diego, alleging sexual harassment at Gay Pride

By: George

George — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:56:27 +0000

This is not a gay/straight issue and moving away from that, this is a harassment issue. These guys are great fire fighters who have served the gay community for years and just felt uncomfortable and out of place to be forced to march and be subjected to gay comments from gay guys that we all have, at one point or another, tried to ignore. These fire fighters also have gay and lesbian family members and have had no issues with them. These guys tried to go up the chain of command and were shut out and began to have retaliation marks against them and even threats to their homes. We quickly jump to yell discrimination as LGBT individuals if we are mistreated but if the tables are turned, we consider it anti-gay. Just as we hold our straight counterparts responsible of shortcomings against the LGBT community, we need to be respectful and responsible for our own actions and own shortcomings.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:07:14 +0000

What about the gay community being harrassed by firefighters over the years. This sets a horrible legal precedent that leaves us less safe in case of emergency.

The pride commission should countersue

By: jibii

jibii — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:59:26 +0000

While I appreciate the men’s feelings over being forced (if so true) to participate in a parade that can get rather raunchy at times. And I sympathize with their discomfort. But what I disagree with is their demand of 3 mil. The tax payers should NOT have to foot the bill on this.

Let them win the suit, punish whoever forced them into the parade, and set up a rule that says that they can’t force public servants (fire, police, etc) into any event. Cover their legal fees even. But don’t compensate them with money. That’s just greedy.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:47:25 +0000

When is this community going to pull their heads out of their groins? By making an appearance in the parade, the city is trying to be supportive? I have witnessed this type of behavior and I must say I’m ashamed. Since we have begun merging and co-existing with our straight counterparts, we can no longer just assume everyone at a pride festival is Gay, especially public servants. I know we are all there to have fun, but we need to learn to show some respect as well.

By: Drew

Drew — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:21:57 +0000

I understand and completely agree that the men should have been given the right to decline representing SDFD. However it is a part of public service. When you work for a governmentally funded organization you can expect to do things you would not normally do. However, to file a lawsuit claiming sexual harrassment is beyond ridiculous. If it had been four men in a fire truck at an arts and crafts festival I assure you the women in the crowd would have treated them the same. The insinuation that is that the “dirty gays” are on the prowl again. This case is only another in a long long line of others attempting to make gays look like sexual deviants.

By: Steerpike

Steerpike — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:57:02 +0000

HOW were they forced to participate? This sounds absolutely ludicrous; heterosexual public employees coerced into marching in a gay pride parade?

Someone is an idiot. That said, there’s nothing more sad and contemptible than a het man screaming sexual harassment simply because someone looks at him funny. Women have to put up with their sleaze seven days a week but if you glance at their asses….EEEEEEK!

By: jacovo

jacovo — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:31:05 +0000

O.K. Folks. Lets behave ourselves and not yell taunts at the people who are there to protect us… especially hotty-hot fire-men, sexy, but not just a slab of water hose!

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:06:30 +0000

Next time a straight woman gives me the “eye” at the produce section of the supermarket, I’m gonna sue her a**! It happens all the time, and I’m completely traumatized by it. Too bad Johnny Cochran is deceased. Maybe I’ll try Gloria Allred.

By: H.

H. — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:05:25 +0000

Of course these guys shouldn’t have been forced to participate…but I must wonder if they themselves haven’t subjected women to the kind of treatment they received?

While some straight guys would and do find that kind of attention highly flattering.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:48:07 +0000

JohnM,
I said that the firefighters do not need to participate in any parade of any type in my previous posting, (the words “of any type” might have escaped your notice. I did not exempt any parade by name)

I don’t care whether it’s St, Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Martin Luther King, Jr. or any other day. We need the firefighters at their stations ready to fight a fire unless the parades for some reason like the Chinese New Year with its exploding firecrackers might need a firetruck for a practical reason related to exploding flammable things.

Especially, very large cities need to every firetruck available and not tied up in a parade regardless of whatever parade or whose parade it is.