Firefighters Sue
San Diego, Claiming Sexual Harassment at SD Pride

Four San Diego firefighters have filed a lawsuit against the city government for damages after alleging they were sexually harassed while participating involuntarily in the 2007 gay pride parade.

The Los Angeles Times reports the firefighters say they were ordered to drive their firetruck along the three-hour parade route even though they say peers had complained of being harassed during previous pride parades. The trial was expected to begin today.

The suit alleges that mandatory participation was part of a policy by Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, according to the firefighters' attorney, Charles LiMandri. Jarman, who is a lesbian, marched in the parade.

One of the firefighters alleged that after questioning the parade assignment, the "lesbian battalion chief" gave him an unsatisfactory job rating. "This is not an antigay thing," LiMandri said, according to the Times. "These guys have served the Hillcrest community for years with dignity and honor. They just feel firefighters should not be forced to participate in a parade where firefighters have been harassed in the past." City Atty. Michael Aguirre, who is representing the city and the Fire-Rescue Department, countered, saying that the firefighters are "required to serve the community without discrimination as to sexual orientation." Aguirre continued that riding a firetruck along the parade route is no different than a host of other public-relations activities, including school visits.

The four firefighters -- John Ghiotto, Chad Allison, Jason Hewitt, and Alexander Kane -- are seeking damages and reimbursement for therapy sessions and attorneys' fees. Though court papers don't mention an exact figure, reports suggest they are seeking in the neighborhood of $3 million, according to the Times. Along with sexual harassment claims, the suit also alleges the gay pride parade should be seen as a political event, "designed to advocate for the civil rights of homosexuals, and in recent years to promote the controversial concept of gay marriage." In his court brief, Aguirre suggested that much of the subsequent harassment the firefighters were feeling stemmed from their very public suit, adding that the four are viewed by some as "money-grubbers." (The Advocate)