Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Jury: Firefighters harassed at gay parade
02.18.2009 12:47pm EST
(San Diego, California) A jury has found that four San Diego firefighters were sexually harassed for being ordered to participate in a gay pride parade and awarded them combined damages of $34,300.
The firefighters – Alex Kane, Chad Allison, Capt. John Ghiotto and Capt. Jason Hewitt – claimed they were subjected to sexually charged conduct and lewd comments while riding a fire engine in the July 2007 parade, which drew about 150,000 spectators.The firefighters’ attorney, Charles LiMandri, said during his closing argument that his clients were targets of vulgar gestures and catcalls while being forced to watch barely clothed men and women simulate sex acts and touch themselves and one another.
“The Fire Department knew what goes on there,” LiMandri told the jury.
This was the second trial on the firefighters’ claims. In October, jurors were unable to reach a verdict.
LiMandri requested up to $1 million for each client at the first trial. He didn’t propose specific damages at this trial.
A crew that volunteered to ride a fire engine pulled out shortly before the parade because the captain’s mother died. LiMandri told the jury that department supervisors didn’t try to find other volunteers, but gave the assignment to the crew in the city’s Hillcrest area, home to a large gay population where the parade is held.
The firefighters’ attorney argued that his clients objected but weren’t taken seriously. The city said the firefighters expressed discomfort but didn’t complain of sexual harassment at the time.
Deputy City Attorney Don Shanahan said the firefighters weren’t satisfied after Chief Tracy Jarman apologized and promised to change the department’s policy and use only volunteers in the parade.
“The department bent over backwards,” Shanahan told jurors.
The city will appeal the verdict and oppose any motions to pay the firefighters’ legal fees, Shanahan said.
it was wrong to force these men into the gay pride parade.
That would be like my job forcing me, on my own time, to march in a Black Power parade.
And why would any self-respecting gay person WANT someone who has been FORCED to march in their parade…well…march in their parade.
It doesn’t matter whether they were whistled at or even if everyone just ignored them. Being forced to participate with ANY labeled public demonstration against one’s will or belief system is just flat out wrong.
Would any of us willingly march in a Rev. Phelps’ parade?
I’m glad the guys won. What was done to them with their jobs in jeapordy if they didn’t comply was unconscionable.
Frankly I find the behavior at the gay pride parades silly and demeaning to the gay community as a whole. We demand respect and yada, yada, yada, yet crowds of gay people get out in public and act like a bunch of horny, slutty, dumb asses. No wonder the conservatives have an easy time keeping us without rights and keeping such a bad spotlight on us. To all the ones out there that did the calling and did the lewd simulations I say to you, learn some class. Have some dignity for crying out loud. That kind of behavior is NOTHING to be proud of and the event is anything but a pride parade.
But! I don’t agree with those that are siding with the firemen. What kind of wussy boys did they have on this fire truck? As a gay guy, I have been subjected to intimidating and humiliating names and acts from plenty of straight people even in my school classrooms. Do you think I’d have had a chance to win some kind of case against the people who done it? Against the teachers who let it happen? Against the school? Against the community? Fat chance. I say to the weenie firemen… suck it up and be men for God’s sake instead of a bunch of crying little girls. I’ve certainly had no choice in life but grow a thicker skin.
I don’t think it is funny at all. We as a community have an obligation to show we are more than a bunch of sex craved horndogs. If wee want equal rights as a civil minority, we need to show that we are not just a community of sexual devients. If we expect respect from our straight brothers and sisters, we need to show them respect in return. No one should be put into a situation of being demeaned. We should have been waving and saluting to say thanks for the support, not ooogling and catcalling.
I do not agree with the verdict, I work in the EMS field and I have been in many fire stations and have seen what these guys do to get a laugh. The Fire Department does have an obligation to interact with the community and these guys found an easy way to make a buck. If it would have been women shouting at them and giving them cat calls then it would not have been a big deal, but it was men yelling at men and their egos felt hurt. I am ashamed that a jury would award them anything, if they do not want to have to interact with the LGBT community then they should not be civil servants.
So I guess if a New Orleans Cop who is gay has a bunch of titties flashed at him during Mardi Gras he can sue New Orleans for that? Or how about a Vice Cop working with Hookersor raiding a strip joint.
When I vote I do so in a Black Baptist Church that always spearheads ballot initiatives on anti-gay measures. I get to vote beneath a crucifix with Christ nailed to it and that is perfectly okay.
I think it was a money grab. I don’t think they should be forced to participate however. I am sure there would have been a few volunteers or they could have had some guys throw on the garb and do it if they couldn’t get volunteers. I would love to interview friends and neighbors of these guys and see what they have done themselves that falls into the same category.
well, at least they only got $34,300 in combined damages…that’s probably just enough to cover their legal expenses.
Although I think that only those firefighters that wanted to should have participated in the parade, I think it is kind of sad that these men couldn’t just suck it up and deal with it. Instead, they have to go to court and seek damages.
If these guys were not comfortable being in the parade then they shouldn’t have been forced to. Do I think they suffered severe psychological anguish over seeing gays and lesbians making out? No. That part I think is silly. Do I think they were bothered by catcalls and all of that? Yeah, they probably were.
We, as a community, or going to celebrate in our own way, and we shouldn’t change that, but people shouldn’t be forced to participate if they aren’t comfortable.
The community isn’t at fault here, the firemen’s chief is.
I think the jury made the right decision – if and only if the firefighters were really harassed. Still, LGBT people are harassed all the time. If we got a comparable award each time we were harassed, we’d all be billionaires. Straight firefighters shouldn’t be harassed, but neither should LGBT people.
hetero firefighters, like the pigs…er…cops i mean, are a bunch of mindless, mean spirited neanderthals!! so these poor fireman just couldn’t have simply REFUSED to participate in the parade and filed a grievance with their respected labor unions? i was always under the impression that if your a public servant being paid with public TAX $$$, then you HAVE to do what your chief(boss) ORDERS you to do!! This stinks of religious right wing set-up to me!! So if the Chief orders these little whine asses into a gay bar that’s on fire, then what? They have a “legal” option to “opt” out?!? I realize that this is an rough analogy but, it’s more or less on the same line. You are a PUBLIC figure! Just like any bureaucrat. As such you are expected to follow orders. Pay these little hetero religious loonies their ten grand apiece and then fire their asses and send them on their merry way!!! We really DON’T need these type of “men” in our community!
Kevin:
We are a minority. We are seeking equality. And we need the help of other communities including the straights to help us. And if we make them uncomfortable by cruising them, making sexual comments about them or anything it is not to our benefit. For our own self interest we should be respectful to them not making them the but our sex jokes and cat calls.
Tj, Hi I just have to ask! What the (Copulate) is a fireperson? Is this more PC Bull(excrement)? It took decades and finally all those brave women to get rid of “fireman”(a person, historically male, who kept the coal fire going for steam powered engines, which the Fire Service hasn’t used in a 125 years! The correct term, PC or otherwise, is FIREFIGHTER! Happily gender nuetral and sums up what we do, fight the “Red Devil” sometimes to the the death, but trust me on this, its always a fight! BTW in case anyone is wondering I now self censor my potty mouth to save Big Brother 365Gay”s censorship program the bother – besides my Bleeps are more fun than its! As we say in the FDNY: “You light ‘em, WE FIGHT ‘EM!” Luv Ya All!
Ahh…so “charlie” here is a firefighter? Cool. Then you must know EXACTLY what I’m talking about then when it comes to these homophobic halfwits right? LMAO!
I lived in San Diego many years ago , and they were some of the best years of my life. I found the story to be absurd , as it involved a profession associated with some degree of machismo and a greater degree of heroism. But I am now appalled at learning that the firefighters were from the station in Hillcrest , San Diego’s traditional gay area.in the event of a fire I’d insist that the “traumatized” firefighters not attend the incident as they cannot be trusted to save gay lives.
Fire departments participate in parades because it’s good PR and as a recruiting tool. So yes it really is part of a fireman’s job. Why are straight males so insecure that they have to ask for volunteers to do their job in a place men are acting sexy? A female manager sized me up the other day and I took it as a compliment instead of taking her to court. Now every office assistant who has to walk past the construction site to get their boss coffee can sue.
boo, freaking, whoo