Firefighters objected to gay parade

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Four San Diego firefighters say they were ordered to drive a firetruck in the city’s gay pride parade, enduring both sexual advances and slurs.

The four have asked the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing for permission to file a sexual harassment suit against the Fire-Rescue Department, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Fire Capt. John Ghiotto, Engineer Jason Hewett and firefighters Chad Allison and Alex Kane said they were threatened with discipline when they objected to participating in the parade.

The firefighters are being represented by the Thomas More Center, a Michigan-based group promoting Christian values.

Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the fire department, said a group that volunteered to be in the parade dropped out because of a death in the family and other problems. He said Ghiotto and the others were selected because they work out of a firehouse in the parade neighborhood.

Fire Chief Tracy Jarman said she has apologized to the four firefighters. But she also said the fire department has participated in the gay pride parade for years without problems.