Posted on 08/28/2007 7:05:22 PM PDT by monomaniac
Complaint Filed on Behalf of Firefighters Forced to Participate in San Diego "Gay Pride"
SAN DIEGO, August 28, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced today that its West Coast Director, San Diego area attorney, Charles LiMandri, filed a sexual harassment and freedom of speech complaint in California state court on behalf of four respected San Diego firefighters. Charles LiMandri was also the Thomas More Law Center's lead counsel in the successful Mt. Soledad Cross case in San Diego.
In July, four San Diego firefighters were ordered, against their wishes, to participate in uniform on their city fire engine in San Diego's annual "Gay Pride" parade. During the course of the ensuing three hour long ordeal, the firefighters were subjected to vile sexual taunts and gestures along the parade route. These firemen are devoted husbands and fathers. All four firemen are Christian and two are Catholic.
Charles LiMandri explains filing the complaint in state court, "These men were sexually harassed in clear violation of San Diego's sexual harassment code. 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."
Brian Rooney, spokesman for the Law Center and former San Diego resident commented, "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. 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."
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center added, "There is a transvestite group dressed up as nuns that marches in this parade every year in crude mockery of the Catholic faith. 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."
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. On the morning of July 21, 2007, however, these same four firefighters were ordered to ride on a fire engine, in uniform, in the parade.
LiMandri commented, "Our complaint will show that this is not the first time that firefighters were ordered into this parade against their will and complained to the fire department. 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. 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." LiMandri went on to say, "We want a new policy for the Fire Department that will explicitly state that no firefighter will be ordered in the future into this type of parade again against his or her will."
In 48 states, this case is a winner.
In NY and CA ?
Good to see decent people fighting back!
Where are the union thugs from the firefighter unions? Their silence is deafening! It’s tough being a Commie ‘RAT in these kinds of situations.
Good
Let’s hope those guys win.
Amen to that. I totally support these four fire fighters. I can not believe they were subject to this and the city okayed this. Good for them. We are in a civil war and this just shows it so very clearly. We are fighting for the decency and morality of our countries, cities, and world, but it starts at home most times. Yeah for San Diegians!!!!! First Mt Soledad, now this!!
Forced participation in such a display is something the mayor should have to explain. This level of perversion starts at the top.
How would someone marching in the parade wearing a turban with a goat stapped hind end first about his waist be greeted by the City of San Diego?
I give up, how would they respond?
(knowing I am regretting asking this question)
I have no idea, that’s why I asked. Possible resonses: the man is arrested on the spot for mocking the religion of pieces; arrested on the spot for simulated animal molestation; greeted with adulation by the homo-Nazis lobby as the prophet of the “next big thing?”
Why do you say that? What do you know about California state courts?
re: California state courts.
In San Diego? Surely you jest.
I’m not jesting about anything. Suince you seem to hold strong opinions on the possible outcome, what has your experience been with the state courts here, particularly the California Supreme Court where this will eventually end up?
The most apt word I can find to describe California jurisprudence is that it bends way over backwards to do what is politically prudent.
To be seen as doing anything that might have the remotest chance of disappointing California’s gay community in any way is to commit political suicide, incur the wrath of the LAT and cause you to be branded a “closet homophone” forever.
The fact that they had to get the out-of-state lawyers they did, as opposed to local counsel, should tell you a lot.
Yes, the More Center is excellent, but you always want a lawyer who went fishing, wenching or card playing with the judge back 20 years ago.
That's just an idiotic thing to say. As I suspected you are completely ignorant in all of this. San Diego is an extremely conservative county. Moreover the California Courts are not as liberal as the Federal circuit. The California Supreme Court has a majority of judges appointed by Republican Governors.
How many cases have you tried?
Sue their pants off...if they wore any.
How many California laws have you written?
How about you read the first paragraph again and see how silly you sound.
It’s very simple. Of all the states in the US, California and New York, with the occasional inclusion of New Jersey, and Missouri, are the states where courts, judges and juries alike, can hold extrajudically (in response to political and “social” pressure) and the appeals process is so long, convoluted and overworked that you will never get any practical justice.
There is a further problem with this matter. Even if the More Center establishes liability, what were these guy’s damages? No jury is going to give a bunch of firemen a lot of bucks because some drunk gays called them names.
They have no permanent injuries. They are able to work without loss of income, etc. They have no physical injuries at all. Firemen are supposed to be tough, etc. Can’t you see the city’s attorney. “Fireman Jones, have you ever heard the saying “Stick and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? Mr. Fireman, if an eight year-old can understand and accept that, why does a fully qualified fireman have trouble being called a few names?”
Will they get a judgment or most probably a quick settlement from the City promising to never make that (or any) “public display” assignment mandatory over the participants objection? Yes, of course.
The City will give them that ASAP to take away any practical case the firemen have. But forget about money damages.
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