October 4, 2007 | Sex & Society

English firefighters doused

Firemen are better known for putting out fires (and calendars) than upsetting homosexuals. However, in Bristol, England, four firefighters were reprimanded after they shone large flashlights from their engine into a park popular for its flora, fauna and fairies, purposely intruding on several men having sex. Talk about coitus interruptus!

And, even though park sex is illegal in Bristol, one of the gay men made a formal complaint. A three month investigation was launched and the firemen were found to be in breach of internal policies. They were fined, forced to take equality courses, and one of them was even demoted. All four men were transferred to other stations.

Fellow firefighters were not impressed with the decision to punish their colleagues. "They have been treated as the criminals in this case and it has been completely forgotten that they witnessed criminal activity occurring in a public place," one argued.

Kevin Pearson, Chief Fire Officer, sees things a little differently. "There was no justifiable reason for that (truck) to be in that location at that time. They should not have been there and there was no operational justification for their actions."

Stick to what you know best, boys: looking good half-naked. That way we all win!