Christian Firefighters forced into 'gay' parade sue city
Pastor Dale Morgan
Christian Firefighters forced into 'gay' parade sue city*
'The debauched and decadent conduct violates municipal codes'
Posted: August 29, 2007
The Thomas More Law Center
Editor's Note: WARNING – Some content in this article is graphic.
Four San Diego firefighters who were ordered by their supervisor to
participate in a homosexual pride parade – during which the city
"temporarily suspended" decency laws and allowed "debauched and decadent
conduct" – are fighting back and suing the city.
The Thomas More Law Center said its West Coast Director, San Diego area
attorney Charles LiMandri, has filed the sexual harassment and freedom
of speech complaint in California state court against the city.
"These men were sexually harassed in clear violation of San Diego's
sexual harassment code," he said. "Further, the California
Constitution's freedom of speech provision prohibits compelled speech.
What the firefighters were ordered to do was endorse what goes on at
this parade through their participation in it."
It was in July when the firefighters, all Christians, were ordered to
participate in uniform on their city fire engine in San Diego's annual
"Gay Pride" parade.
They were subjected to "vile sexual taunts and gestures" on the
three-hour parade route, the law firm said.
"You could not even look at the crowd without getting some type of
sexual gesture," one firefighter said, adding, "If any crew member were
to hang up pictures at the station of what we saw, we would be disciplined."
They reported hearing statements such as, "show me your hose," "you can
put out my fire," "you're making me hot," "give me mouth-to-mouth," and
"blow my hose." When they refused to respond to the crowd, some in the
crowd turned hostile and started shouting, "F--- you firemen" and others
began "flipping them off."
"In one regard, forcing these firefighters to participate in this parade
has removed the artificial veneer of legitimacy from this event to
expose it for what it truly is – a temporary suspension of decency laws
in the name of inclusion and diversity," said Brian Rooney, a spokesman
for the center. "The debauched and decadent conduct at this parade
clearly violates municipal codes that prohibit public nudity and
obscenity. The city has played make believe long enough."
San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarman is an open lesbian
San Diego's fire chief, Tracy Jarman, is an open lesbian who called the
July 21 parade a "fun event" in which "all employees are encouraged to
participate." After getting their orders, all four firefighters
repeatedly protested that they did not wish to participate, to no avail,
the law firm said.
"There is a transvestite group dressed up as nuns that marches in this
parade every year in crude mockery of the Catholic faith," said Richard
Thompson, president of the center. "No other religion would be treated
this way.
"And for the city of San Diego to sponsor such an event and for its
political leaders to endorse such behavior by their presence is
outrageous. Two of the firefighters who are Catholic were forced to
endorse such mockery of their faith by being forced to participate in
the parade."
LiMandri said it was not the first time the city has coerced such parade
support.
"One of the main reasons for this complaint is so that no firefighter
will again be forced to participate in a parade that is so sexually
charged that it creates a hostile work environment," he said. "The city
should be concentrating the fire department's efforts on working the
parade and responding to emergencies, not putting these brave
firefighters on parade to be sexually harassed."
Prior to the parade, the San Diego City Council unanimously adopted a
resolution introduced by Mayor Jerry Sanders to designate July as
"Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month."