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An assistant fire chief in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware has ignited a firestorm of backlash after posting anti-gay rhetoric to Facebook while attending a local drag show.
William Buckaloo, the assistant fire chief in question, attended a drag show at the Blue Moon, a local restaurant, over the weekend. He later tagged himself in the Facebook post, which showed a picture of drag queen Magnolia Applebottom on stage. The caption read: “The sh*t I get talked in to (sic)…Matt, talked us to go to a f*ggot show.”
Magnolia Applebottom ran across the post the following Monday, sharing it to her own Instagram account. “What a sad turn of events,” Applebottom wrote. “The @lewes_fire chief thought it was ok to go to a gay owned and operated establishment… and go to a show hosted and produced by a award winning gay entertainer and use that F word on social media… Your job is to protect the people in our community not bring us down. Do better!!! Be better!!! And we recognize your inappropriate behavior.”
Matt Sprenkle, one of the friends tagged by Buckaloo in the post, has distanced himself from the event and denounced Buckaloo’s comments. He insisted that the pair had not attended the show together; rather, just run into each other at the restaurant.
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“I do not agree with any of the comments he made and do not associate myself with them,” Sprenkle told The Washington Blade.
In the aftermath of the public outcry, Lewis Fire Department Chief Steve Evans confirmed that Buckaloo had been removed from his position as assistant fire chief as of Monday, and that Buckaloo would receive formal suspension as well.
At the time of this writing, Buckaloo has not commented publicly on the incident or his disciplinary action.
Donston
There are always constant reminders that someone indulging “gay culture” or someone being “gay friendly” or even someone embracing whatever type of queer identity doesn’t mean a ton. There is still sometimes judgement, femme-phobia, homophobia, internalized homophobia, hetero superiority, whatever. For some, drag shows or going to “gay” clubs are pretty much like minstrel shows or carnival rides. And that’s where I can understand not wanting to let hetero couples into those places.
Cam
This guy works in Rehoboth Beach, the main gay vacation spot in the mid-Atlantic, and he still thought that was fine to say.
LifeinShaw
He’s actually with the Lewes, DE fire department which is just down the road. The drag show was in Rehoboth. But Lewes is very gay friendly. In fact, the mayor, his boss, is gay.
cuteguy
He was temp suspended, not terminated. They are waiting for things to blow over to bring back this bigot.
Smith David
This is yet another example of why you can’t fix stupid. Lump him in with the virus deniers as well. SMH…..
jcool
i think his drag name should be Billie Buckaroo and he should dress as a cowgirl, maybe make some extra money during his suspension
Kangol2
Buckaroo creep is probably on the DL.
yup5hioop
I’m not endorsing this but at least he was there. I read so many deranged comments online that frankly I would give him a free drink just for showing up. Punishing people like him for having to assert their fragile masculinity while exploring our world frankly doesn’t add up to good publicity when we have all kinds of keyboard warriors ready to reestablish very draconian and tired religious rules globally.