The behavior on the Fire Department is unexceptable. There are laws against this behavior. Not taking this behavior on the chin, is a start. Reporting this behavior to the appropriate people and getting a lawyer is within their rights. If others don't like it that attorneys are now involved, they can look back and clearly see, that the offenders had a choice to not commit the violation in the first place. Novanewsjunkie2, no need in crying they hit me back first. People who harrass and demean others are the real bullies and cowards when it is all said and done. I am thrilled that civil rights violations are not tolerated period.

I am not getting your comments NOVANNEWSJUNKIE2. The fire dept is still a work place regardless if you consider it a "male bonding" time. There are female firefighters out here as well, so if they make inappropriate comments like that who knows how far they will take it and perhaps to another level. While it may not offend you personally, what if someone started joking about your sexual orientation or ethinicity and kept taking it to another level and eventually doing something to the level of hanging nooses in the workplace, I think then you would get offended. Sometimes if people get away with doing something, they take it to another level until it eventually ends up a big problem. It is not appropriate to carry on such behavior in the workplace period. Do it on your own personal time. I worked with an individual who thought it was appropriate to talk to women any way he wanted and no one ever said anything until one day he walked passed a feamale at work and smacked her on her buttocks. Needless to say then everyone came out the wood work stating that he sexually harrassed them as well. Needless to say, he lost his job and the company ended up in court trying to settle the suits against them.

The firehouse is one of the biggest places for "male bonding" experiences like this. Big friggin deal. Someone made an insensitive joke. Aww, did it hurt their feelings? These men run into the burning building everyone else is running out of and risking their lives to save ours. Big deal if they have an little non-PC fun with the guy who is supposed to be looking out for them.

The cowards, yes COWARDS, that would not stand up and tell their other firemen they do not like the humor and instead run a lawyer and to the news should be removed from the department. If they can't stand for themselves within their own house how can they be relied on when they need to run into a fire? How will the react when they happen to see a burned or mangled body?

This is very disappointing on the part of the so-called leadership but I am greatly encouraged that the firefighters themselves are finding homophobic and racist behaviour unacceptable.

Best wishes to the team.