RHODE ISLAND: State Supreme Court Rejects Suits Of Firefighters "Forced" To Drive In Providence Pride Parade

Via the Associated Press:

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has thrown out lawsuits brought by two Providence firefighters who said their constitutional rights were violated when they were ordered to drive a truck in a gay pride parade despite their religious objections. The firefighters, Theodore Fabrizio and Stephen Deninno, argued that they are Roman Catholics and therefore do not support or condone homosexuality. Justice William Robinson, writing for all five members of the high court this month, said the men appeared in the 2001 parade as public servants who were "relatively anonymous." He called it a legitimate work assignment. "The respondents' appearance in the parade, solely as members of the Providence Fire Department, did not constitute a form of expression on their part. Rather, it was simply the accomplishing of a task assigned to an engine company of the Providence Fire Department," Robinson wrote.

The suits were first filed in 2004. Read today's ruling.

RHODE ISLAND: State Supreme Court Hears Case Of Firefighters "Forced" To Drive In Providence Pride Parade

The Rhode Island Supreme Court today heard the case of two firefighters who are suing the city of Providence and former Mayor Buddy Cianci because 13 years ago they had to drive a firetruck during the pride parade. Which violated their religious freedom to be bigots, of course.

Following the nearly hour-long hearing, Cianci said he was astonished that 13 years later the case against him, former Fire Chief James Rattigan and the city is still alive. "In this day and age, I don't know why we are here," he said. "I hope this will be a victory for the gay community. They were taken to task and embarrassed [at the time]." Cianci noted that he was among the first mayors in the region to offer domestic partner benefits to gay couples. In the courtroom, lawyer Gina Decenso represented the firefighters, Theordore Fabrizio Jr., who is retired, and Stephen DeNinno, who is still with the department. She maintained that they were forced to join the parade against their wishes and were harassed afterward for their participation. She said she was "surprised" and "indignant" at Kevin McHugh, representing the city's solicitor's office, who called the case "ridiculous." "Public employees cannot be compelled to support an ideology they do not support," she said. McHugh countered that the firefighters' Constitutional rights to free speech and religion were not violated and that they do not have the right to pick and choose which orders of their supervisors they will carry out.

RELATED: While an ally, Cianci is no angel, having been booted out of office twice. His first stint as mayor ended in 1984 following an assault conviction and in 2002 he was sentenced to four years in federal prison after being convicted of racketeering, corruption, extortion, and witness tampering. He is now again running for mayor of Providence, where he has never lost an election.