Intimate Fire hose

[Hoser]

All the people, living in harmony.

 

[Outpost4]

Exactly. The ACLU is not a liberal organization, no matter what right wing commentators say. They are a pro-personal liberty/civil rights organization. They believe in the Bill of Rights more than most conservatives. They are also willing to spend big bucks defending those beliefs. If anything, the ACLU is more of a libertarian than a Democratic (with a large "D") organization.

I, too, would like to see a link. Something tells me there is part of the story missing here.

 

[Outpost4]

Here's a number of links from the San Diego Union-Tribune, the newspaper there. I just plugged "firefighers" and "parade" into their search engine. It gave me 80+ results, many of them on case. It turns out this has been going on for over a year. San Diego has changed their policy so participation by firefighters is now voluntary. The firefighters have so far been unsucessful with their suit.

Read for yourself.

http://find.signonsandiego.com/?i=1;page=1;q=firefighters+parade;sort=0;submit=Go!;u1=q

 

[RobertScorpio]

Here's a number of links from the San Diego Union-Tribune, the newspaper there. I just plugged "firefighers" and "parade" into their search engine. It gave me 80+ results, many of them on case. It turns out this has been going on for over a year. San Diego has changed their policy so participation by firefighters is now voluntary. The firefighters have so far been unsucessful with their suit.

Read for yourself.

http://find.signonsandiego.com/?i=1;page=1;q=firefighters+parade;sort=0;submit=Go!;u1=q

There is a ballot proposal floating around here in san diego that would make in mandatory...i hope not

Rob

 

[TorontoTrekker]

In San Francisco, they offer the job to gay firefighters, who volunteer for the job. It seems like an easier option.

That's how it works here in Toronto as well. There's never any shortage of firefighters, police officers or EMTs who are willing to participate.

 

[Mr. B]

Exactly. The ACLU is not a liberal organization, no matter what right wing commentators say. They are a pro-personal liberty/civil rights organization. They believe in the Bill of Rights more than most conservatives. They are also willing to spend big bucks defending those beliefs. If anything, the ACLU is more of a libertarian than a Democratic (with a large "D") organization.

That's largely true. I think the ACLU is largely a liberal organization based on their membership but they have gone to bat for Rush Limbaugh in the past.

As for the firefighters, they've definitely been wronged but not necessarily by the city of San Diego. At the very least they shouldn't have to appear at the gay parades anymore.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I think the ACLU is largely a liberal organization based on their membership but they have gone to bat for Rush Limbaugh in the past.

Really? That's a story I'd like to hear.

As for the firefighters, they've definitely been wronged but not necessarily by the city of San Diego. At the very least they shouldn't have to appear at the gay parades anymore.

And for what it's worth, their fire chief - who, AFAIK, is an open lesbian - took *their* side in this.

 

[jkladis]

Half a million dollars? In good legislative tradition, they are suing for an amount ludicrously disproportionate to any actual loss or damage suffered.

This is America we're talking about.

You stepped on my toe ? I'm suing you for ONE TRILLION DOLLARS!!!!

Don't be ridiculous. We haven't that many dollars any longer.

 

[Goliath]

In San Francisco, they offer the job to gay firefighters, who volunteer for the job. It seems like an easier option.

That's how it works here in Toronto as well. There's never any shortage of firefighters, police officers or EMTs who are willing to participate.

I don't recall seeing them, the one time I attended the Pride Parade in Toronto, but I imagine that a bunch of gay firefighters would be a true highlight of any such event.

*Imagines a fire engine rolling slowly down the street, flashing lights and blaring sirens, while hunky fire-fighters stripped to the waist dance on its top to the tune of "Disco Inferno"*

 

[JonathonWally]

Oh teh noes, I'm a big tough fireman who goes running into burning building and saves people but when someone shows me their penis I can't handle it and sue. OMG!!

 

[Captain X]

Exactly. The ACLU is not a liberal organization, no matter what right wing commentators say. They are a pro-personal liberty/civil rights organization. They believe in the Bill of Rights more than most conservatives.

Except of course when it comes to Native Americans and when it comes to the second amendment.

 

[Hoser]

I think the ACLU is largely a liberal organization based on their membership but they have gone to bat for Rush Limbaugh in the past.

Really? That's a story I'd like to hear.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,108140,00.html

Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh probably never expected the American Civil Liberties Union to become one of his staunch supporters.
But the privacy rights group was on his side Monday when its Florida branch filed a "friend-of-court" motion on behalf of Limbaugh arguing state officials were wrong in seizing his medical records for their drug probe.
"For many people, it may seem odd that the ACLU has come to the defense of Rush Limbaugh," ACLU of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon said in a released statement.
"But we have always said that the ACLU's real client is the Bill of Rights, and we will continue to safeguard the values of equality, fairness and privacy for everyone, regardless of race, economic status or political point of view," Simon said.
The ACLU contends that state law enforcement officers violated Limbaugh's privacy rights by taking possession of his medical records as part of their criminal investigation into the commentator's alleged "doctor-shopping" to feed his prescription-drug addiction.

 

[Captain X]

On the subject of gay pride, from a gay man.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I think the ACLU is largely a liberal organization based on their membership but they have gone to bat for Rush Limbaugh in the past.

Really? That's a story I'd like to hear.

Oliver North, too. And many others. Civil liberties are for everybody. The ACLU is a liberal organization, not a Left Wing organization.

 

[Dude]

The national board of the ACLU also supported the Rodney King officers when they tried to have their second, federal charges thrown out on double jeopardy grounds. The officers were wrong for what they did, but the ACLU is opposed to the "dual sovereignty" doctrine that allows people to be charged with the same crime twice, as long as it's once by the state and once by the feds. Even when I disagree with them (as I did in the King prosecution), it's hard not to respect them as a very principled organization.

Oh teh noes, I'm a big tough fireman who goes running into burning building and saves people but when someone shows me their penis I can't handle it and sue. OMG!!

No one should be subjected to sexual harrassment, male or female, gay or straight.

 

[Cutter John]

Ah hyes, the battlecry of your average American. "Omg I'm offended! Give me money!"

Still, I kinda see their point. They really shouldn't have been forced. Surely the city could've found enough volunteers to participate.

And yeah, the city should have slapped those parade members with a public indecency fine. I'm a big gay rights supporter, but shit like that just gives ammo to the gay bashers and Prop 8 supporters.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

All the people, living in harmony.

Damn It. Once again, someone beats me to what I want to post.

 

[Cutter John]

^ Yeah right. I suspect if the police weren't so well armed this country would turn into Rowanda overnight.