Breathlessly indignant gay harassment double-standard post narrowly averted… for now

A mistrial was declared in the sexual harassment suit brought against the city of San Diego by four SD firefighters who believed they were the subject of lewd and harassing language and actions at the 2007 Gay Pride Parade in the Gay Alps of Hillcrest here in San Diego. (Previous posts here and here)

The jury (6 men, 6 women) was apparently dead-locked 8-4 on the question of sexual harassment and voted 11-1 to reject the claim of one of the firefighters who charged he suffered retaliation for complaining about the parade assignment.

One juror said she felt the panel could have reached a verdict on the sexual harassment claim if given more time, but City Attorney Mike Aguirre, who was defending the city in the suit, wanted the panel to declare whether it was deadlocked.

Superior Court Judge Michael Anello agreed with Aguirre, and when the jurors said that they were, in fact, deadlocked, Anello declared the mistrial.
The suit could be refilled, however, if the firefighters decide to pursue this further.

City Attorney and all-around sleaze merchant, Mike Aguirre, who is up for re-election was convinced it was not really about harassment:
“That's what this was about. This was about greed,” he said. “This was about getting money in their pockets.”

Comments to attached article were particularly revealing. It would seem, harassment is a one way street and subject to strict codes based upon stereotyping which we thought highly ironic considering the “civil rights”- type struggle the gay community sees themselves fighting.

And commenters bashing the firefighters for wasting tax payer money with this suit…? We want to ask an honest question because, though we think we know the answer, we’re not entirely sure: Who’s footing the bill for this parade, anyway?

Well, almost averted…