"Pride" creates new shame in San Diego
Pride is one thing... but thinking that an employer having an alternative lifestyle will excuse him or her (in this case a lesbian fire-chief) from being liable for sexual harrassment is just stupid.
Firefighters were forced against their wishes to participate in the Gay Pride parade in San Diego. They voiced their opinion, but were ordered to attend or risk being suspended on the spot for insubordination. The orders ultimately came from the San Diego fire chief Tracy Jarman, an openly lesbian woman who has repeatedly taken the stance that her gender and sexual preference have nothing to do with her job. I agree with that statement, but now she's stepped over the line.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292442,00.html
Now, even though I am solidly heterosexual, I have NO problem with GBLT lifestylers having a weekend of "pride" and holding a parade through a part of town that is largely made up of like-minded individuals... However, I do have a problem with the display of genitalia in public, profane slurs to people who may or may not be welcome to hearing them, and forcing straight men to attend an event they are uncomfortable with.
I support this lawsuit to the extent that it not ever happen again... there are enough participants in the Pride festival that are willing to be there so that the lack of a firetruck won't make a difference one way or another. If a group of openly gay/lesbian firefighters want to band together and ride in teh parade, that's another matter... should they be allowed to do it in their uniforms? I'm undecided on that.
I do hope, though, that it's going to take a lot more than just an apology for fire chief Tracy Jarman to keep her job.
...oh, and before anyone starts to label me a homophobe, you should know that I once drove a car in the Pride parade for the "Gaylaxicon 2004 / San Diego Queer Sci-Fi" group. It was my choice, and I was doing a favor for some friends (It turned out that none of the SDQSF folx could drive a stick... and I'll leave that there as a straight-line for the obvious jokes)
Firefighters were forced against their wishes to participate in the Gay Pride parade in San Diego. They voiced their opinion, but were ordered to attend or risk being suspended on the spot for insubordination. The orders ultimately came from the San Diego fire chief Tracy Jarman, an openly lesbian woman who has repeatedly taken the stance that her gender and sexual preference have nothing to do with her job. I agree with that statement, but now she's stepped over the line.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292442,00.html
Now, even though I am solidly heterosexual, I have NO problem with GBLT lifestylers having a weekend of "pride" and holding a parade through a part of town that is largely made up of like-minded individuals... However, I do have a problem with the display of genitalia in public, profane slurs to people who may or may not be welcome to hearing them, and forcing straight men to attend an event they are uncomfortable with.
I support this lawsuit to the extent that it not ever happen again... there are enough participants in the Pride festival that are willing to be there so that the lack of a firetruck won't make a difference one way or another. If a group of openly gay/lesbian firefighters want to band together and ride in teh parade, that's another matter... should they be allowed to do it in their uniforms? I'm undecided on that.
I do hope, though, that it's going to take a lot more than just an apology for fire chief Tracy Jarman to keep her job.
...oh, and before anyone starts to label me a homophobe, you should know that I once drove a car in the Pride parade for the "Gaylaxicon 2004 / San Diego Queer Sci-Fi" group. It was my choice, and I was doing a favor for some friends (It turned out that none of the SDQSF folx could drive a stick... and I'll leave that there as a straight-line for the obvious jokes)