Stitch up

I was reading about this today and I'm suspecting that the firemen in question were stiched up somewhat.

If I was a fireman and was asked to attend a gay pride march (note: march not festival) in full uniform to distribute leaflets I would refuse as well.

Quite simply why are firemen distributing leaflets at ANY march?

I didn't notice any uniformed fire officers distributing leaflets when islamic protesters marched in London against the cartoons that depicted the prophet Mohammed. It might even have been sensible for them to be there too being as some of the protesters were burning flags.

Throw in the fact that firemen are a gay icon and I would argue that the firemen who've been punished are within their rights to launch a counter claim of bullying and harrassment against whoever gave them these 'orders' and whoever punished them for refusing them.

Personally I think that whoever ordered them to do this did so knowing it would cause an upset and that it would at the very least piss a few of their underlings off. And if they refused to do it, all the better.

After all, when you can acuse them of being homaphobic you've got license to repremand them as much as you like.

Why not send them to Iraq as part of an exchange of fire prevention techniques?

Then if they refuse you can brand them Islamaphobes?