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08/30/08-09/01/08

Straight Firefighters Sue Over Taunts at Pride Parade

Four straight San Diego firefighters who were required to participate in the 2007 San Diego pride parade will soon be able to argue their sexual harassment case in front of a jury. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department captain John Ghiotto, engineer Jason Hewett, and firefighters Chad Allison and Alex Kane told KGTV that "during the parade, bystanders taunted them with sexually explicit comments and colleagues called to tease them for participating in the event.”

SDFD spokesman Maurice Luque said the men were called in after another crew, which volunteered to participate, canceled at the last minute because one firefighter had a family emergency, reported KGTV.

"I was forced into a situation that would compromise what I hold true and what I believe in," Hewett said.

After the parade the firefighters lodged a complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, requesting the right to file a suit against the SDFD. After word of this letter reached the public, complaints reportedly poured into the firehouse, causing Ghiotto and another firefighter to transfer.

The firefighters' attorney, Charles LiMandri of the Thomas More Law Center, a nonprofit law firm focused on defending Christian faith–based ideals, will attempt to prove that it was unlawful to require his clients to participate in what they deem a “political event.” The SDFD has participated in the parade for 15 years, but since the 2007 complaints firefighter participation has been made strictly voluntary.

Pretrial arguments are scheduled to begin September 4, and jury selection will commence September 8. (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Kenny Ray
    Date posted: 2008-10-01 9:32 PM
    Hometown: Houston

    Comment:

    This is coming from a gay man... we go to these events to enourage men and women who are afraid to be public about them selfs... i am not out yet but i plan on coming out after the '09 pride parade... these parades are publicised enough that if you dont want to stick around... LEAVE for the 5 hours the parade last... I can't belive that men would say something to this astent... GO GAYS...


  • Name: karolyn
    Date posted: 2008-09-30 2:34 PM
    Hometown: san Diego

    Comment:

    Sissy's? Pansy? Have yOu gay people lost your mind? What would a firefighter do at a gay residence if it was buring....this is how ignorant most Gay's are and why the Hetro's want to stear clear of their Cool-Aid drinking ways. If you choose your beliefs, and you want to express it, why cant a straight firefighter express theirs...BECAUSE YOUR ALL HYPOCRITES....Most of us stear clear of your nut job parades because it doesnt show good morals to ANYONE , none the less the children who watch grown men in women's underwear..... I LOVE FIREFIGHTERS.....


  • Name: Carolyn Smith
    Date posted: 2008-09-30 2:24 PM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    I say GO FIREFIGHTERS...no one needs to take this kind of abuse....a straight man doesnt need to play nice with the minority of Gays who choose this wacky lifestyle..and for the guy who says to call the department and show them what real Harrassment is your a looser and when you call 911 for help, I bet your going to want those men and women to come help you...after your harrassment. Thats why Gays are so adament about the Majority accepting them...because they want US to conform to them....I dont think so....go back into your closet and enjoy your lifestyle there, uninterrupted.


  • Name: Randy Yost
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 9:30 PM
    Hometown: Houston, Texas

    Comment:

    Here in Houston, Texas, for gods sake, the mayor, Bill White, walks, at the very front of the Gay Pride Parade; by himself, without benefit of a car with his name on it. And both the police, in police cars, and firefighters all over a huge firetruck; smile, wave, and throw colored beads to the huge crowds of straights (often with their children) and gays all having fun together. And we always had the impression that California was more liberal than us country folk!


  • Name: Jeffrey1234
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 8:18 PM
    Hometown: Long Beach, CA

    Comment:

    These pride parades are videotaped. It will be easy to see enough of these video tapes to see if these firefighters were waving and smiling. If they were I think the case will be closed.


  • Name: Sanity Plus
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 5:20 PM
    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    Comment:

    What we need is to find out the name of these 4 firefighters, and then call their station on a regular basis, and show them what REAL harrassment is like.


  • Name: Art M.
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 5:16 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    Comment:

    Are these men sissies, that they can't take a bit of harrassment? I'm sorry, but as an ex-cop, I have NO sympathy at all for some pansy-assed firefighter who gets an epithet hurled at him. Cops get dirty names thrown at them ALL THE TIME. Grow the f**k up! It's part of the job. As for their fellow firefighters - if it can be documented that they harrassed them, then take them through the disciplinary procedure normally in place for harrassment of a fellow officer.


  • Name: Danny
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 3:11 PM
    Hometown: Seattle

    Comment:

    A critical part of this story is not clear. Will someone please explain in detail how these firefighters were forced to participate in the parade. You cannot force a firefighter or a cop to participate in a public parade if they do not want to appear. Both public agencies have power unions that make this clear. Something is missing from the story.


  • Name: Chris Sullivan
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 2:50 PM
    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    Comment:

    "Apostolos" - seriously dude, seek out some counseling.


  • Name: John Embry
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 1:56 PM
    Hometown: Forestville, CA

    Comment:

    What happens if any of these delicate fire fighters is/are called to fight a fire at a gay residence? Why is the fire department so much more homophobic than even the cops? They refuse to even sleep in the same barracks or have a known gay on the team. Even in San Diego they should show up for a parade whether the occasion be Jewish, black, Latino or whatever. We survived a next door fire, not from the blaze, but from the damage the fire department did trying to get to it through our building. Hacking open unlocked doors, dragging unused equipment through the premises, then withholding information about the cause of the fire. Having exposure to a gay or any other minority isn't necessarily fatal. Sure these unChristians will end up with a pile of money from San Diego, which deserves it for putting up with them.


  • Name: Bob
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 1:49 PM
    Hometown: San Diego CA

    Comment:

    The firefighters in question are from a station smack in the middle of Hillcrest, a very gay area in San Diego where I live. They've seen and heard it all, and these are adult men. These FF's are after money, pure and simple, and the don't like the lesbian fire chief we have and want to embarrass her. The $$ behind their lawsuit is from a vicious fundy group. During the parade, none of them looked especially offended or pissed off, especially since the overwhelming reaction to their presence is always applause and cheering. We like our cops and our firefighters here. They were smiling.


  • Name: Harold
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 1:45 PM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    These 4 men should not have been forced to participate in the parade. Their battle now is with their superiors not the gay community. We want PRIDE in our Pride Events and participation should be voluntary and desired. We've all been in uncomfortable situations. Let's not dwell on the negatives. Those same 4 fire fighters would certainly protect your home and put out a fire there regardless of your sexuality. So let's thank them for their dedicated service, and focus on the good they do.


  • Name: Harold
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 1:43 PM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    These 4 men should not have been forced to participate in the parade. Their battle now is with their superiors not the gay community. We want PRIDE in our Pride Events and participation should be voluntary and wanted. We've all been in uncomfortable situations. Let's not dwell on the negatives. Those same 4 fire fighters would certainly protect your home and put out a fire there regardless of your sexuality. So let's thank them for their dedicated service, and focus on the good they do.


  • Name: DEAN
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 1:16 PM
    Hometown: DAYTONA BEACH

    Comment:

    apostulus may you BURN!!!!!


  • Name: Apostolos
    Date posted: 2008-09-02 10:56 AM
    Hometown: Mastakounas

    Comment:

    Next time I hear one of you homo nut cases suggest we need therapy for not agreeing with your foolish view about political correctness above logic,I am coming at the first homo I see with an axe.After I am finished chopping and dicing,I will plead INSANITY and ask for a homophobic treatment to cure of my HATE for IDIOTS!!! Signed A very angry STRAIGHT Firefighter.


  • Name: Scott
    Date posted: 2008-09-01 10:52 PM
    Hometown: Sydney

    Comment:

    This is more homophobia. Straight men whom cannot take it. Like gay men whom serve in the military or police or other services. They are required to attend lots of events where they hear this stuff. I too agree it is wrong. However I too believe in commonsense. I bet this was not out of the usual if this has been going on for 15 years. Therefore only homophobia can explain the fear and distress experienced by these men. So they may win their court case, but it will be news when they either get caught at a beat or kill someone in the future for a perceived slight. Counselling would be a great thing here.


  • Name: Corey Lynxx
    Date posted: 2008-09-01 5:45 PM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    Cry me a river. Us gay/lesbian/transgendered people have to put up with the frat boy level homophobia and bullying from firemen and police officers every day. The police shoot us down at pride events, firemen harass us if we live nearby and call us names and throw rocks at our house. If they can dish it out they can take it. Karma isn't fun now is it firefighters? HAHAHAHAHA


  • Name: Lily
    Date posted: 2008-09-01 3:50 PM
    Hometown: Akron

    Comment:

    I would have to support the firemen on this one. They should not have to participate in an event that goes against their beliefs. They also should not have had to deal with the harrassment afterward. The people who were harrassing them are no better than those who harrass us. As for the people who said that they should get over it because we go through this every day, I disagree. Isn't this exactly the kind of thing we're trying to eliminate? You're being hypocritical. I hope these guys win their case.


  • Name: Alex
    Date posted: 2008-09-01 1:11 PM
    Hometown: Raleigh, NC

    Comment:

    Good on them, they had their civil liberties grossly violated when they were forced to take part in this parade. Just imagine if a gay firefighter had been forced to take part in a homophobic evangelical Christian parade? I hope they get a huge settlement. No one should ever be forced to participate in an event that they dont want to have anything to do with. This is why I vote Libertarian-I dont want anyone telling me or anyone else what I must and must not do.


  • Name: Ian Boswell
    Date posted: 2008-09-01 12:11 PM
    Hometown: Jacksonville

    Comment:

    Pride parades are not the place to try and make straight people "Share in the gay experience" if you legitimately want an anti-gay man to somehow share in an emotional experience with gay people then you need to force them in to group therapy. If I ran the firefighting department that is what I would do to the employees rather than or before forcing them to participate in the parade. If we're lucky they may still receive it, but it will take several weeks worth of sessions to overcome the damage that's been done to their perceptions of the gay community and what it means to be gay in America. They now feel like they are somehow the oppressed ones. Court-ordered group therapy may help in that. If you don't believe me I suggest you rent "The Color of Fear" series. It's a powerful experience just to watch and a perfect example of group therapy done right, where all participants openly share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.


  • Name: Roger Burr
    Date posted: 2008-09-01 11:50 AM
    Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

    Comment:

    Okay, I'll weigh in on this one again. The firemen should NOT have been forced to participate in the parade. I'm sure that San Diego has more LGBT fire fighters than the four who declined, for whatever reason(s) to participate. They WILL win their case, although I think any monetary award will be more symbolic than substantial. What I DO hope comes out of all this is some empathy on the part of the fire fighters in question, for the LGBT community. Hopefully, they will be more sympathetic to our daily struggles; having themselves been on the 'receiving end' of denigrating sexual comments and innuendo. There is nothing like 'walking a mile in someone else's shoes'.


  • Name: Hugh (Bart) Vincelette
    Date posted: 2008-09-01 2:47 AM
    Hometown: Vancouver , Canada

    Comment:

    I feel that the firefighters should not have been compelled to particiapte in the parade , but the fact that they are so deeply offended at the sexual comments directed their way , as to take legal action , calls into question how reliable they would be in the event of a major fire involving a gay resiedence, bar or bath .


  • Name: Anonymous
    Date posted: 2008-08-31 10:40 PM
    Hometown: las vegas

    Comment:

    These firefighters will win their case and get a lot of money. There is nothing more offensive and disgusting for a heterosexual man than to be approached by a homosexual. It is time for the gay community to realize that there are way more straight people than gay people and not everyone loves to be around them. More and more people are being forced to embrace gays. This situation is a clearcut example of that. What the LGBT community doesn't realize is that the constant "in your face" approach will backfire. There will be more beatings and murders of LGBT people in time. Maybe then the gays and transgenders will wake up.


  • Name: Paul
    Date posted: 2008-08-31 12:59 PM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    Why are straight men so weak and tender around gay men? Women and gay people have been harassed, beaten and made into second-class citizen by heterosexual men for years, and now look at what has happened: These guys had to march in a PARADE! They got WHISTLED at! They got SEXUAL COMMENTS thrown at them! Come on, guys - grow a pair! And use this as a valuable lesson; this is what you all have been doing to others for thousands of years.


  • Name: Josh
    Date posted: 2008-08-31 10:24 AM
    Hometown: kansas city

    Comment:

    Charles C, they shouldn't have to "get over it". Neither should we as gay men and women have to get over harassment directed towards ourselves. If we want equality, we must treat each other equally.


  • Name: Charles C
    Date posted: 2008-08-31 10:08 AM
    Hometown: Jacksonville Florida

    Comment:

    I understand their argument, as g.l.b.t. we have all been there. However, THEY WILL GET OVER IT. We seem to be able to do it ever day.


  • Name: Doug
    Date posted: 2008-08-31 9:55 AM
    Hometown: new York

    Comment:

    We are asking for equality and must be willing to understand that includes all people. These men have a case. While I agree that it is nothing compared to what glbt people face every day, we can't create double standards in our quest for equal civil rights.


  • Name: Claude Lillie
    Date posted: 2008-08-31 9:54 AM
    Hometown: West Milford, NJ

    Comment:

    This is a tough one. I'm guessing that the SDFD HAD to participate in a Pride event because San Diego, as a city, supports equality and non-discrimination. This would therefore apply to every department in the city. I'm guessing that representatives from every department were not forced to be there. And I don't think that anyone should be forced to actually support an event if they don't want to. If there were a St. Patrick's Day parade, would you force a policeman of German heritage to march in it if he didn't want to or even an Irish-heritage policeman, if he just didn't feel like marching? Toleration is different. For example, the San Diego police are required to provide a safe environment for the parade participants and onlookers by working for the ongoing parade. A better way would have been to have a city government section, with whomever wanted to volunteer to walk from the various departments.


  • Name: AK
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 11:16 PM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    Lawyers everywhere rejoice...God bless Amerika!


  • Name: Josh
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 7:53 PM
    Hometown: Kansas City

    Comment:

    Mark, do not hate on these four men for doing exactly what any sane, reasonable person would do. In fact, reverse the situation and you would be praising a group of gay men or women for suing someone for being forced to tolerate slurs and comments directed at them. Sexual harassment laws protect everyone, including straight people.


  • Name: Mark
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 7:45 PM
    Hometown: Tampa

    Comment:

    Well, now they know what *we* go through every freakin' day of the week. WE get forced into participating in hetero rituals and then get harrassed and scorned in the process. Poor babies. I'm sure they're scarred for life.


  • Name: Josh
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 4:54 PM
    Hometown: Kansas City

    Comment:

    These four men will win their case, and they should. They were placed into a hostile work environment, forced to "volunteer" or most likely lose their job or face penalty. This is a clear cut case of quid pro quo sexual harassment. Thing is, this won't go to court. It will be settled out of court, which is fine. It's good that the SDFD has taken the proper action to making participation strictly voluntary, but it's going to be an expensive mistake for them.


  • Name: Bob Smullen
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 10:57 AM
    Hometown: Hackensack, NJ

    Comment:

    I think that participation in parades by uniformed civil servants should be voluntary, so no, these fire fighters should not have been required to participate in Gay Pride. But this principle should be universal – no mandatory parade participation in St. Patrick’s Day or Columbus Day either. Beyond that, these men should choose their battles carefully. Have they never participated in the sort of rough house banter that takes place in fire houses? Maybe a colleague will turn around and sue them for homophobic or sexist remarks. Enough already! These spoiled brats need to grow up.


  • Name: Roger Burr
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 10:44 AM
    Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

    Comment:

    On the face of it; they may have a case. A straight person who may not be sympathetic to the LGBT community should NOT have been forced to march in the Pride parade. Participation by the department is a must; since the department should reflect the diversity of the community. However, nobody should be forced to participate. As a gay man, I would not appreciate being forced to be part of a function for some group that is against equal rights. These firemen should NOT have been put in this position.


  • Name: Heph
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 9:53 AM
    Hometown: Copenhagen

    Comment:

    Ofcourse that kind of behaviour itīs counter-productive and silly. But GLBTīs are human like everyone else and not perfect. But it is a heterosexual run world - the firefighters donīt have to endure the daily taunts. Perhaps they should reflect on this too before they going gaga over some taunts that gays face daily and have through out their lives. Itīs a little bit of a hysterical reaction.


  • Name: Geoff Wertime
    Date posted: 2008-08-30 12:30 AM
    Hometown: Hightstown, NJ

    Comment:

    Loathe as I am to agree with any conservative Christian group, those men should not have been forced to participate, just like a gay firefighter should never be made to indicate he agrees with groups like the Thomas More Law Center if s/he doesn't. Pride is meant to be fun and empowering and shouldn't be used to taunt anyone. Did all the GLBTQ people there spontaneously, simultaneously forget what it's like to be harassed? I can only hope they simply thought these men volunteered and knew what they were getting into, which should have been a safe assumption to make.


  • Name: Ian
    Date posted: 2008-08-29 10:41 PM
    Hometown: Brooklyn

    Comment:

    Taunting Heteros is counter-productive to the reason for the Pride parade! I've seen this happen a number times in the village. I don't get it. I think its rude and hypocritical.


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