A Rhode Island Supreme Court judge ruled this week that the rights of two homophobic firefighters were not violated when they were ordered to drive the city’s firetruck in the 2001 Providence gay pride parade.
The two firefighters are suing former Mayor Buddy Cianci, claiming that their “constitutional religion and and free speech rights were violated” when he “forced” them to drive the parade route, which is considered community outreach and therefore a necessary duty for firefighters.
Kevin McHugh, the attorney representing Cianci, called the case “ridiculous” and argued that other firefighters have been ordered to complete similar drives in the Columbus Day parade, the Purim parade, and others.
Justice Maureen McKenna compared the firefighters’ arguments to their line of work, pointing out that if they were called to extinguish a fire in a temple or a mosque, they would be compelled to do so.
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The AP reports that Mayor Cianci was forced from office in 2002 after being convicted of corruption, and the suit only “coincidentally” coincides with his current campaign to win back city hall. He told reporters outside the courthouse that he would make the same decision again if reelected.
Photo: Javier Soriano
Amalgamate
sorry bigots-turns out-the PUBLIC pays your salaries! aw, forgot that huh? Yep-the gays pay for you-you will do what your boss says
SteveDenver
I suspect two closet cases who don’t want to be recognized.
Good for the judge.
Cianci is a right wing two-time felon who has been forced out of office TWICE. Leave him in the trash heap.
iggy6666
This overly aggressive progay agenda is getting ridiculous. MAKING people like you isn’t going to resolve the situation, rather cause resentment and more bitterness. I read a lot of comments on here. And theres a lot of the boy who cried wolf. Homophobes this. Haters that. Get over it!. We don’t need to be liked by everyone, just those that matter in our own lives
Lvng1tor
@iggy6666: No one is forcing these guys to “Like” us. They are being told to do their jobs and everything that it entails. PUBLIC servants sign on to SERVE the PUBLIC including us. If in their jurisdiction it is part of their job to do “community outreach” then that’s what they do. No one asked them to march with a sign that says “I LOVE GAYS” they were told to drive the truck. If they were able to opt out due to religious beliefs then that leaves the door open to pick and choose who they save, what fires get put out and who to protect when they feel. It’s not crying wolf it’s saying you are paid to do a job…do it.
There were cops at another gay pride parade who objected to having their patrol at the parade…sorry you have to protect everyone.
Ridpathos
While I would expect a public servant to do the job they normally do, when faced with a minority they don’t like, and treat them just the same as everyone else, I feel that this is pushing it.
They really couldn’t just get two firefighters who were pro-gay or volunteered to do it?
Fire-fighters normally save people’s lives. Driving through a parade shouldn’t be part of their duties if don’t want to do it.
Leonard Woodrow
They can’t disobey orders just when it suits them. If they do, they should be sacked and replaced with people who are prepared to do the job whether they agree to it or not.
Leonard Woodrow
They can’t disobey orders just when it suits them. If they do, they should be sacked and replaced with people who are prepared to do the job whether they agree with it or not.
Harley
As a firefighter AND an atheist, if I were to refuse to put out a church fire, I would be fired on the spot. Same argument.
Mark
Religious firemen are hilarious. “Clearly god wanted that orphanage to burn, who am I to dispute divine judgement?”.
More on-topic, they were ordered to drive the firetruck along the parade route, not march shirtless carrying rainbow flags, nor were they ordered to interact with the crowds or attend after-parties, so boohoo suck it up haters.
Mykaels
I disagree with this judge. Refusing to put out the fire of a gay community center or a gay persons house is not equivalent to making them drive the trucks in the gay pride parade.
As someone who LOVES gay pride and being gay, I would be put off to know that people who do not like me are being forced to celebrate my gay pride. You can NOT tell me there were not other firefighters who would have gladly driven the trucks.
chaddyboy6
They are not being forced. Since you work for a government entity and the government has no right to discriminate against its citizens, then neither do you. It was your choice to work for the government which means you have to follow the rules.
If you worked for a private organization then that would be a different story. Then it would be force.
Cam
@iggy6666: said…
“This overly aggressive progay agenda is getting ridiculous. MAKING people like you isn’t going to resolve the situation, rather cause resentment and more bitterness.”
_____________________
No, actually you can reverse it. This overly aggressive attempt to steal taxpayer dollars by working as a public servant and refusing to do your job is getting ridiculous.
I’m not worried about whether bigots like me, I’m concerned that they do their job and follow the law. Sorry that conflicts with your agenda.
iggy6666
Oh please. Would you rather have someone who freely chose to drive in the parade or some guy that wants nothing more then to run over the people in front of him.???
I think people are confusing public servants with personal assistants. A firefighters job isnt to wipe your ass.
Daniepwils
Iggy6666 you are right, their job isn’t to wipe our ass. But driving in the parade is PART OF THEIR JOB, it is called community outreach. When you sign up to be a civil servant you have to serve EVERYONE no matter who they are. We pay taxes as well!
Cam
@iggy6666: said…
“Oh please. Would you rather have someone who freely chose to drive in the parade or some guy that wants nothing more then to run over the people in front of him.???
I think people are confusing public servants with personal assistants. A firefighters job isnt to wipe your ass.”
_____________________
A firefighters job is to do their job, whatever that job is. I don’t care if they like me, they need to do their job.
Your desperation to try to confuse this issue is obvious and sad.
But you know, just curious, if a very conservative Muslim Firefighter got to a burning house and realized that Christians, Jews, or single women lived there you seem to think he should be allowed to not do his job. Your words “Confusing Civil Servants with Personal assistants”.
iggy6666
Burning houses and pride parades— TOTALLY COMPARABLE EVENTS…………….and throw a little religion in there for an arguing statement. Brilliant. You should become a politician.