Jury Finds San Diego
Firefighters Were Sexually Harassed

A San Diego jury found Tuesday that four firefighters were sexually harassed at a gay pride parade in the city in 2007. The quartet will receive $34,300 in total damages from the city as a result, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The four sued the city after being ordered to participate in the parade, where they were subjected to sexual comments, they claim. A previous jury last year was unable to reach a verdict , the Times reports.

Each firefighter will receive $5,000, and one of them will receive another $14,200 because he said he needed to transfer to another fire station following the parade, according to the Times.

Another will receive an extra $100 to cover a counseling session.

The jury ruled that the fire department violated its own anti-sexual-harassment policy by making the men participate in the parade against their wishes . The suit alleged that mandatory participation was part of a policy by fire chief Tracy Jarman, according to the firefighters' attorney, Charles LiMandri. Jarman, who is a lesbian, marched in the parade.

One of the firefighters alleged that after questioning the parade assignment, the "lesbian battalion chief" gave him an unsatisfactory job rating.

"This is not an antigay thing," LiMandri said when the suit was filed. "These guys have served the Hillcrest community for years with dignity and honor. They just feel firefighters should not be forced to participate in a parade where firefighters have been harassed in the past."

Since the lawsuit was filed, the department has made such participation voluntary. (Advocate.com)