San Diego Firefighters Forced to Participate in "Gay Pride" Parade File
Lawsuit Against City
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Subjected To Gross Sexual Gestures and Obscenities Typical of
"Gay Pride" Events
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SAN DIEGO, CA, August 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - 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 obscene 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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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."
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Local papers reporting on the parade made no mention of the lewd and offensive behavior that characterized the parade.
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Brian Rooney, an attorney and Director of Communications at the Law Center who lived in San Diego for over three years while serving as a Marine officer commented, "This event panders to the most base elements of what is advertised as 'America's Finest City'. Even the homosexual community should be outraged and ashamed of the sexual harassment these firemen were forced to endure."
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Fire Chief, Tracy Jarman, an open lesbian, stated, "This is a fun event and all employees are encouraged to participate." When Jarman was appointed Fire Chief she stated that her homosexuality has never been an issue at the department and she has never seen any gay-related trouble. Rooney commented, "Obviously the environment at the department has changed for the worse since Jarman has been appointed Fire Chief. 'Participation' should be a voluntary act-these four firefighters had no choice in the matter and that is wrong no matter what one's sexual orientation."
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Thompson commented, "This is another example of how radical homosexual activists in positions of authority force their agenda on unwilling citizens. Although the local media avoided mentioning the debauchery and the obscenity that pervaded the parade, the general public should know what went on and how these firefighters were forced to participate against their will."
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To politely express concerns:
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Mayor Jerry Sanders
City Administration Building
11th Floor, 202 C Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 236-6330
Fax: (619) 236-7228
Email the Office of the Mayor:
JerrySanders@sandiego.gov
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City of Ethics and Integrity:
City Administration Building
202 "C" Street, 9th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone: (619) 236-7182
Fax: (619) 236-6067
E-mail: oei@sandiego.gov
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San Diego Council members:
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Council President Scott Peters
E-mail: scottpeters@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
E-mail: kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov
Council President Pro Tem Tony Young
E-mail: anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Brian Maienschein
E-mail: bmaienschein@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Donna Frye
E-mail: donnafrye@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Jim Madaffer
E-mail: jmadaffer@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Ben Hueso
E-mail: benhueso@sandiego.gov
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I learned about this story on my local talk radio. ( The Big Talker-WPHT Phila ) I am appalled. This is one more story on how this agenda is being forced on people who believe that homosexuality to be morally wrong and are uncomfortable with it's active promotion.
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Now just why would that be? Could the behavior of those along the parade route shed any light on just why this lifestyle should not be accepted or embraced?
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There are those who are playing fast and loose with the rights of others, and I've seen many instances of laws being passed that infringe on other's constitutional/ legal rights - of where a person's religious belief and moral view are simply being dismissed.
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There are those who simply do not understand that real change and acceptance does not come from force or imposing their will on others. It does not come from harassment. It does not come from filth or public displays of filth and lewdness. It does not come from dismissing a parents rights/beliefs on what should be taught/forced to their children.
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How about we give equal time to the American Nazi Party, or have a celebration of Aryan Youth? How about the Church Of Satan? ( After all they are a legally recognized religion in the U.S. )
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I bet all of the above can throw a pretty good bash of an event. A racist might actually say they cannot help how they are either-maybe misunderstood.
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They have rights too don't they? Shouldn't they have time to celebrate their rascism and ideology?
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How about a Heterosexual Pride March!! Has anyone thought to organize that? I can think of many groups that should decide to have equal time and organize a parade.
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Now that would really shake things up.
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Now, I have to ask, just where do you draw the line.
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The media didn't shed light on it because they are also promoting this agenda. It is shadowed in this spirit of 'political correctness' that is starting to choke society and free speech, ideas and personal rights.
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The 'Gay Pride' parade is mainly a sexually oriented event. It is a riotous event that emphases what people are sexually. Is it any real wonder of all of the shows of offensive and filth lining the parade route?
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I believe it to be simply a thumbing of the nose and giving the finger to the community and it's faith and moral belief at large. It is an attempt to force it's will and agenda on the majority of the community that is seeing it as forcing it's wrongness and intellectualizing on society in an attempt to make it legalized/normalized wrongness.
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I do not at all think less of the firefighters. They are being put in the position that many others are dealing with as well of having this agenda forced on them.
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I pray that the Lord will help them in their suit of the city. I pray that the Lord will use this to show the community what this issue is in reality about, and make the wrongness of it apparent.
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The Bible states clearly about just how evil these individuals can stoop to.
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The firefighters have my vote of confidence!
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Firefighters rock!