SAN DIEGO — An appellate court in California sided with four firefighters who sued the city of San Diego after they were forced to participate in a “gay pride” parade that left them traumatized.
In 2007, the firemen asked to be excused from participating in the parade but instead were required by their superiors to ride in uniform on a city fire engine along the three-hour parade route. The men were subjected to sexual taunts and lewd behavior that caused several stress-related symptoms in the days that followed.
An Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) allied attorney filed a lawsuit on their behalf, and a jury affirmed their right to forgo the parade. The city of San Diego appealed, and the appellate court confirmed the verdict. If the city appeals again, ADF said it is prepared to take the matter to the California Supreme Court.
“This has been a concerted effort to say, ‘If you have some kind of traditional moral faith, you have the wrong answer. We’re either going to silence you or we’re going to compel you to take part in an activity and approve it,’” Joseph Infranco, ADF senior counsel, said.
In its Oct. 14 ruling, the court concluded that “the record contains substantial evidence to support a finding that the sexual harassment experienced by the firefighters during the Pride Parade was severe and pervasive, thus altering the conditions of employment and creating a hostile or abusive work environment.”
By 2008, the San Diego Fire Department changed its policy to say parades should be staffed only by volunteers, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. (TAB)
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