Gay firefighters
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) will be taking part in four Homosexual woman, Gay, Bisexual and Gender diverse (LGBT) Pride events this summer, the first is this Saturday, 9 June in Canterbury.
A fire engine will ride in the parade alongside firefighters, staff and their families departing the Marlowe Theatre forecourt, at 11.30am, through Canterbury High Street to the Dane John Gardens.
The diurnal promises to be really good fun with exist music, a selection of food and drink stalls and entertainment for all ages.
KFRS’ Director of Operations, Sean Bone-Knell said: “KFRS is proud to back its diverse communities and workforce. We’re looking forward to being part of the parade and will be sharing safety tip in Dane John Gardens, so please come and talk to us.
"It's also a great opportunity to find out about the range of job and apprenticeship opportunities with KFRS."
If you’re not in the Canterbury area this Saturday, why not come to one of the other Kent Pride events and show your support. You can pick up some safety tips at the same time.
- Margate – Saturday 11 August
- Folkestone – Saturday 18 August
- Tunbridge Wells – Date to be confirmed
Sean ended: “Our firefighters and s
'I'm a gay firefighter in London and I don't hide who I am just because it's a stereotypically masculine job'
The preconceptions of the environment within a fire station can often be perceived to be a hyper-masculine space, but this is now an outdated mentality, according to an openly gay firefighter. James Rodgers, a recent addition to the London Fire Brigade (LFB) spoke to MyLondon about his experience as a gay firefighter whose life outside of the fire service exists primarily within queer spaces.
James, 24, is an operational fire officer at Dowgate Station, close to London Bridge. He has been in the profession for a year and a half and in his time at the station he has unified their LGBT+ network, but admitted that it is often hard to join other gay male firefighters in person.
James told MyLondon: "Before I united I had some preconceptions but most of that ties into the thought that the fire service is lots of vast burly men who are very narrow minded, when in fact LFB is a good representation of London in the meaning that it is diverse. I wouldn't say it is very diverse but there are all these different people from alternative backgrounds that make up the workforce."
LGBT+
The FBU’s Lesbian, Homosexual, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT+) section was set up by gay and homosexual woman firefighters who are ‘out’ in the workplace and felt they were in a position to aid others within the UK fire service.
Within the section’s 20-year existence, it has achieved official recognition with the FBU, as good as representing the FBU in forums which were once untouched.
It has established an extensive network to support and advise LGBT+ members who may experience isolated or harassed.
The section’s aims are:
- Organise a LGBT+ school and provide a platform for members to meet
- Ensuring LGBT+ members hold a voice within the FBU, and making sure they are not left out in equality issues at brigade, regional and national level
- Providing support to LGBT+ members in all regions of the FBU
- Identifying and dealing with any issues and problems faced by our members
- Providing members with the opportunity to talk and meet with other members
- Distribute information concerning LGBT+ issues to members
- LGBT+ members in each of the UK’s 12 regions elect a representative to the section’s committee, and a national chair and secretary are elected by a national ballot of LGBT+ members.
Co 
Gay firefighter abuse 'must end'
Very few firefighters are openly gay or lesbian, it is claimed
Fire brigades must do more to ensure gay and lesbian firefighters are not bullied or insulted at work, unions, ministers and equal rights groups say.
Campaign group Stonewall claimed staff had experienced name-calling and physical abuse and even had safety equipment tampered with as a joke.
And 25 UK brigades had not signed up to its diversity programme, it added.
Fire minister Sadiq Khan has written to fire chiefs urging them to "eradicate" homophobic behaviour.
The Fire Brigades Union estimates that just 0.5% of firefighters, less than 250, are openly lesbian, gay or transsexual.
'At risk'
Pat Carberry, secretary of the FBU's male lover and lesbian committee, said those who came out as homosexual often faced mockery and intimidation.
Services often did not "know how to deal with" complaints, while one male lover firefighter had committed suicide after facing discrimination and bullying at work.
Homophobia is a real and current issue for the fire service. The great thing is the macho culture
Michelle Fullerton, Stonewall
Mr Carberry said: "Wh
.
Gay firefighter abuse 'must end'
Very few firefighters are openly gay or lesbian, it is claimed |
Fire brigades must do more to ensure gay and lesbian firefighters are not bullied or insulted at work, unions, ministers and equal rights groups say.
Campaign group Stonewall claimed staff had experienced name-calling and physical abuse and even had safety equipment tampered with as a joke.
And 25 UK brigades had not signed up to its diversity programme, it added.
Fire minister Sadiq Khan has written to fire chiefs urging them to "eradicate" homophobic behaviour.
The Fire Brigades Union estimates that just 0.5% of firefighters, less than 250, are openly lesbian, gay or transsexual.
'At risk'
Pat Carberry, secretary of the FBU's male lover and lesbian committee, said those who came out as homosexual often faced mockery and intimidation.
Services often did not "know how to deal with" complaints, while one male lover firefighter had committed suicide after facing discrimination and bullying at work.
Homophobia is a real and current issue for the fire service. The great thing is the macho culture Michelle Fullerton, Stonewall |
Mr Carberry said: "Wh
.