From "San Diego Firefighters Forced to Participate in “Gay Pride” Parade Subjected To Gross Sexual Gestures and Obscenities: Thomas More Law Center Files Claim" posted 8/6/07 at thomasmore.org
Four respected San Diego firefighters were ordered, against their wishes, to participate in uniform on their city fire truck in the city’s annual “Gay Pride” parade. During the course of the ensuing three hour long ordeal, the firefighters were subjected to vile sexual taunts from homosexuals lining the parade route. This included the following statements: “show me your hose,” “you can put out my fire,” “you’re making me hot,” “give me mouth-to-mouth,” “you look hungry, why don’t you have a twinkie (from a man wearing a “Girth and Mirth” t-shirt),” and “blow my hose.” These firemen are devoted husbands and fathers. When they refused to respond to the crowd, some in the crowd turned hostile and started shouting, “F—k you firemen” and others began “flipping them off.”
Gay 'pride' parades just seem to bring out the best in people...
San Diego area attorney, Charles LiMandri, the West Coast Director of the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is representing the firefighters in their legal claims against the city. LiMandri was also the lead counsel in the successful Mt. Soledad Cross case in San Diego. A 52 year native San Diegan, LiMandri stated: “What happened to these dedicated public servants was inexcusable. The City should have known from past experience the kind of offensive activities that go on at this event. This was a clear case of sexual harassment in violation of state and federal law as well as the City’s own code of conduct.”
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center added, “These firefighters dedicated their lives to save the lives of others. They did not sign on to become unwilling props to a controversial political and social agenda.”
Continued Thompson, “The constitutional right to free speech also protects the right not to speak. These men should not have to explain to their families, friends and church congregations that their presence at a celebration of lewdness and obscenity in support of the homosexual agenda was because they were forced there by way of a direct order. This is a clear violation of their constitutional rights, and the City must be held accountable. It should never happen again to any city employee.”
The firefighters were also targets of gross sexual gestures to include the following: exposure of genitals, blowing kisses, grabbing of the crotch, rubbing of nipples, tongue gestures, men hugging and kissing one another passionately, many of them wearing make-up and dressed like women. Although the firefighters were not physically assaulted, the gestures were clearly directed towards them.
The so-called “Gay Pride” parade took place on July 21, 2007 in San Diego. On July 20, 2007, the four firefighters in question were told by their superiors that they would be participating in the parade. All four repeatedly protested that they did not wish to participate. In the past, firefighters that participated in the parade generally did so on a volunteer basis. On the morning of July 21, 2007, however, these same four firefighters were ordered into their uniforms and made to participate in the parade in their fire truck. The firefighters were left with the Hobson’s choice of either violating their conscience or being disciplined for disobeying a direct order.
Notice that 'tolerance' is no longer enough. Approval and now PARTICIPATION is required.
While on the parade route, the firefighters were subjected to the most vulgar kinds of sexual harassment. To quote one of the firefighters: “You could not even look at the crowd without getting some type of sexual gesture.” This firefighter further added, “If any crew member were to hang up pictures at the station of what we saw, we would be disciplined.”
Local papers reporting on the parade made no mention of the lewd and offensive behavior that characterized the parade.
Do they ever? There is a virtual blackout of reporting among mainstream media of anything that reflects badly on homosexuality or homosexuals.
...Fire Chief, Tracy Jarman, an open lesbian, stated, “This is a fun event and all employees are encouraged to participate.”
Fun? Being the butt of obscene jokes and crude gestures is fun? For whom?
The Constitutional right of association and conscience are trampled for a bit of 'fun.'
This is becoming more and more common as an increasing number of corporate and government employers adopt an actively pro-homosexual stance and expect their employees to do the same. Bible believing Christians are forced to choose between loyalty to Christ and financial security...
Whom will we serve?
Please read the rest of this story.
