Gay firefighters
give thumbs-up to Chuck & Larry

The nation's oldest advocacy group for LGBT firefighters has likened the upcoming film I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry to the real process of coming out to coworkers.

"The coming-out process in the movie mirrors what I, and many of my colleagues, have gone through on the job," said Mike Vissichelli, president of Fire FLAG/EMS in a statement. "Initially we may have dealt with disbelief, disdain, and even prejudice from our fellow firefighters. But significantly, as in our experiences, the film shows the process gay firefighters go through on the job as they move toward acceptance by their fellow firefighters."

Vissichelli said that the Fire Department of New York's efforts have improved to be more accommodating to its LGBT employees.

"While I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry is a broad comedy," he said, "the reality is, there are gay firefighters in many departments across the country, including the FDNY." (The Advocate)