
Firefighters Sexually Harassed by Gays
SAN DIEGO, CA -- Four San Diego firefighters
have filed a request with the state Department of Fair Employment and
Housing asking for permission to file a sexual harassment lawsuit
against the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, saying they were forced to
participate in the San Diego gay pride.
Fire Capt. John Ghiotto, Engineer Jason Hewett and firefighters Chad
Allison and Alex Kane claim that along the parade route, they were
subjected to offensive
lewd
comments such as, 'You can put out my fire,' and saw men blowing kisses
at them. And as if this scary experience was not enough, they even had
to endure the usual protesters who yelled at them that homosexuality was
a sin.
"I was forced into a situation that would compromise what I hold true
and what I believe in," Hewitt said in a statement. The firefighters
also say colleagues called to tease them for participating in the event
and that the fire department failed to protect them from the harassment.
Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, who is a lesbian, says she has apologized to
the firefighters and that she's having the city's Equal Employment
Investigative Office take a look at the situation.
This is the first incident in the 15 years San Diego's firefighters have
participated in the gay pride parade. |