Would you attend a Gay Pride march in a Firemans Uniform

Feel a bit sorry for these guys </p>

From the BBC </p>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5301334.stm</p>



<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="629" border="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><div class="mxb"><div class="sh">Gay snub firefighters disciplined </div></div></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="416"><font size="2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="203" align="right" border="0"><tbody><tr><td><div> <div class="cap">Fire chiefs said community safety was a core responsibility </div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Nine firefighters who refused to offer safety advice to people attending a gay pride march have been disciplined.

A watch manager in Glasgow has been demoted to crew manager with a £5,000 salary cut. The remaining firefighters were given a written warning. </p>

Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said all nine would undergo diversity training. </p>

A spokesman said: &quot;The nine now accept that they should have performed their duties. Their refusal was a fundamental breach of their core responsibilities.&quot; </p>

The nine firefighters are based at Cowcaddens and were asked to distribute community safety advice to people attending the Pride Scotia festival in George Square on 24 June. </p>

The fire service spokesman said: &quot;Firefighters cannot, and will not, pick and choose to whom they offer fire safety advice. </p>

&quot;Strathclyde Fire and Rescue has a responsibility to protect every one of the 2.3m people it serves, irrespective of race, religion or sexuality.&quot; </p>

'Highly controversial' </p>

The Fire Brigades Union in Scotland said it would be waiting until the individual members had been contacted before commenting. </p>

Chairman Roddy Robertson said one option for the men would be to appeal against the verdict. </p>

Mr Robertson said: &quot;With any disciplinary outcome, it could be subject to an appeal. </p>

&quot;But we have to wait until the members have been contacted. </p>

&quot;We would be unable to comment until the disciplinary process has been exhausted. </p>

&quot;If the members don't wish to proceed, then we can make a comment.&quot; </p>

Before the hearings started last month, Mr Robertson said the issue had been &quot;highly controversial&quot;. </p>

Some of the firefighters involved had argued it would be embarrassing for them to turn up in uniform to the Pride Scotia event, while others claimed it would contradict their moral beliefs. </p></font>
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