Commenting to my second post on the Folsom Street Fair, V the K referenced a story which should give gay leaders across the pond a chance to stand up for firemen and against public sex, enabling them to show that not all gay people countenance some of the more outrageous behavior in our community.
Firemen in Bristol, England were “disciplined by their bosses” for shining their flashlights “at four men they found having sex in bushes.” Those four were “engaged in illegal ‘dogging’ – outdoor sexual activity with strangers – on parkland known as the Downs in Bristol late one night.” But, instead of arrest these blokes, the firemen “continued on their way to their fire station.”
After one of the “doggers” complained, accusing the firemen “of being homophobic,” they were punished, two fined while another was demoted, the fourth received a written reprimand.
I wonder if the firemen had called in the bobbies to arrest these lawbreakers, they might not find themselves in the politically correct hot water which has since scalded them.
This is just political correctness run amok. That someone engaging in public sex would have the gall to complain about a figure of public authority shining a flashlight on him while he’s breaking the law. If he wanted to avoid such attention, he would have gotten a room before getting his jollies.
Had the firefighters broken into a public room and so embarrassed people having sex, I would have some sympathy for the pleasure-seekers. But, having sex in public, come on!
It’s not being “homophobic” to embarrass someone who is breaking the law and engaging in public sex. (Wonder why Larry Craig didn’t come up with that complaint to lodge against the undercover cop at the Minneapolis airport. That might have earned him some sympathy, but instead he’s the one being punished with the cop going scot-free.)
Would it be “heterophobic” to embarrass straight people having sex in public?
If it’s “homophobic” to embarrass men having sex in public, then in asking society to tolerate and accept us, we’re asking them to countenance a broad range of behavior that most gay people criticize. And this gay man is criticizing Bristol authorities for disciplining these firemen–and those four “doggers” for not finding a private place to have sex.
How can Homosexuals gain any ground when stupidity reigns during their sexual rituals?
Let’s really redefine the term “MARRIAGE” to include the Slut/Pig/Whore bunch too.
It is one step forward and a free fall backward.
Well, the Avon Fire & Rescue has shut down any way of contacting them on their site. I did shoot off an email request for an explanation to the “Equality and Diversity Unit”. I wonder what I’ll find.
Don’t know if you’re interested, Dan, but I recall a WSJ article, some months back, about how public sex is becoming very popular in the UK. Don’t remember much about it, but I’ll try to find it.
I’m just curious if the area was known to be a place where guys hooked up. The picture in the article shows a public toilet, so when you put that and certain types of closet cases and/or thrill seeking men together, there you go. Discpinary action of the type against the firefighers was pretty much unnecessary. I have a feeling there’s more to this story than what’s in print. I’m kind of curious: If they came upon people engaged in illegal activity, why didn’t they contact the cops? I’m sure firemen have the ability to contact police directly, so it seems the incident was more for a laugh than actually catching/arresting people engaged in illegal activity. Seems to me that the firemen did act inappropriate, but again, not enough to warrant the punishments against them. In addition, if one of these people came forward and admitted to being engaged in illegal activity, he should have been arrested, shouldn’t he?
Kevin, good point. I too wonder why the firemen didn’t call the police.
This is just stupid. Frankly, the idgits rutting in public are lucky these firemen didn’t hose ’em down because they obviously needed it. Considering what has been reported, I don’t find their actions homphobic in the slightest — but I certainly do find the way they have been treated to be. How patronizing of their bosses. Are gays so incapable of discretion and morality that one must excuse such public behavior, let alone protecting it lest those who object be labelled “homophobic”? This is just like how white liberals treat blacks while ignoring any immorality done by someone because of the color of their skin. Blacks are not children who need to be coddled and excused, but have just as much potential for greatness, mediocrity or evil as the rest of humanity sans the paternalistic impulses of racist liberalism. Ditto for gays.
Pretty much, John.
After all, if gays ever had to take responsibility for their sexual behaviors, they couldn’t blame Ronald Reagan for AIDS.
hey, where did my comment go?
(sorry, it’s at the next post below).
Side note: #7 & 8
Sucks don’t it. Been there, done that.
Dan, when I saw your title, I initially thought it was gay groups that were calling the firemen homophobic. But after reading the post, it was one of the criminals caught who made the comment. I guess my point is I give little credence to comments by criminals whether it’s claims of homophobia, wide stances, or picking up imaginary pieces of paper.
…and let he who is without sin cast the first stone…
…and let he who is without sin cast the first stone…
TAG!
Boosh!
First of all, what a lot of RANTING is going on here. So some firemen got their kicks by shining lights on guys fooling around apparently in area known for that. Why should they have called the cops? Maybe the cops were busy acutally arresting real criminals that were robbing, raping, murdering, etc. other people. who were these guys harming? Whoever thinks the HIV virus has something to do with where sex takes place needs to get an education or go to work for the Bush administration. Sure seems to be a lot of “the man doth protest too much” on this page. Get a grip on reality!