SC

Columbia SC: Everybody Doesn’t Love A (Gay) Parade?

Columbia, S.C. is a mess … Its leaders are blowing money left and right on crony capitalist deals, while its streets have become increasingly violent. Of course there’s no doubting the city’s commitment to “inclusiveness,” as evidenced by the rainbow-colored gay pride banners that line its downtown district. Well there…

Columbia, S.C. is a mess …

Its leaders are blowing money left and right on crony capitalist deals, while its streets have become increasingly violent. Of course there’s no doubting the city’s commitment to “inclusiveness,” as evidenced by the rainbow-colored gay pride banners that line its downtown district.

Well there was no doubting that commitment …

Earlier this month the Associated Press ran an item about city of Columbia police officers refusing to work a gay pride parade due to “religious objections.” The wire service didn’t release the names of the officers, but we’re told one of them is lieutenant Ron Felder.

Felder and one other officer – said to be a sergeant – went to city councilwoman Tameika Devine with their objections. Devine in turn went to city manager Teresa Wilson – who told them they didn’t have to work the parade if they didn’t want to.

Wait … what?

Last time we checked, law enforcement was a core function of government – vitally necessary for the protection of individual liberty and private property. Also, the last time we checked sworn officers – whose training, salaries, equipment and benefits are subsidized by taxpayers – had an obligation to protect all citizens (hence the term “equal protection”).

Seriously … cops don’t get to pick and choose their assignments on the basis of whether they like the sexual orientation of the people they are protecting.

Or the skin color … 

Or any other determining factor …

We have no problem with police departments making internal staffing decisions that are sensitive to the beliefs of law enforcement personnel – but for two cops to flaunt their superior’s orders and refuse to work an event is totally unacceptable.

The job of these officers is to protect and serve – not complain and moralize.

And while we respect their right to religious liberty in virtually every other instance, that right does not extend to behavior which could conceivably jeopardize another’s right to life.

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50 comments

Mia the Racist October 15, 2013 at 11:31 am

Was Smirks leading this parade?

Oh, that’s right, he might be gainfully employed and posting 200 comments a day and is certainly not gay. Maybe his SO can tell us since he must obviously spend as much time with him or her as he does commenting.

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Frank Pytel October 15, 2013 at 11:33 am

I have my suspicions, but I wouldn’t out anyone like Grnvillelwyr (spelling?) enjoys.

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Nikki Sicks October 15, 2013 at 11:34 am

Wow! Must be some crush you have there, Mia. Sure you’re not Frank?

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Smirks October 15, 2013 at 11:56 am

The butthurt is strong with Mia.

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Mia the Racist October 15, 2013 at 12:03 pm

Hey, if anyone should know it would be you, am I right?

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TontoBubbaGoldstein October 15, 2013 at 4:13 pm

Dayum…just dayum.

Ralphie October 15, 2013 at 11:36 am

The assignment they were given was not to provide law enforcement and protection at the parada, it was to march in the parade as a participant. That would have been “forced speech,” which is unconstitutional.

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Smirks October 15, 2013 at 11:58 am

If that’s the case, I’d agree with their objection then for the reason you cited.

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Mia the Racist October 15, 2013 at 12:04 pm

Good for us to know self important one! Onward to the 3000 comment mark!

All those followers of yours are eager to know your next opinion.

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Mike at the Beach October 15, 2013 at 2:44 pm

Dude…what i nthe hell did you do to piss off the racist chic? She’s tarting to creep me out with teh cyber stalking thing…

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jimlewisowb October 15, 2013 at 6:15 pm

Not so sure there Ralphie

My cockroach sources tell me the officers were to be in uniform and walk the same route as the participants so as to be close by in case of trouble

Maybe if the Chief had authorized the officers to be covered from head to toe in giant condoms the dickheads would have done as ordered. Ooh, don’t want to catch any homo cooties

The part of this story that really takes a bite out of my ass is the fact these dickheads went whining to the cockroach politicians

Next time they get their collective butts in a bind maybe their fellow officers will walk away and tell them, Call Tameika, Call Teresa, Call Dial A Prayer, Don’t Call Us – Asswipes

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Officer Gannon October 15, 2013 at 12:07 pm

If anyone was wondering what the definition of Homophobia is, this may be an illustrative example.

If these men have conflicts between their jobs and their religious beliefs, perhaps they should be in a different line of work. This type of behavior can result in stalling one’s career.

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Nikki Sicks October 15, 2013 at 12:12 pm

What? Finally, yes god, we actually get some content out of you. Edit: Sorry, it came up as Mia on my mobile.

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Mia the Racist October 15, 2013 at 12:22 pm

Oh come on now, we know that after blowing Smirks that your cum stained sticky fingers botch the reply button.

You two are thumbs up blow job buddies.

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Nikki Sicks October 15, 2013 at 12:42 pm

There must be a reason you’re home form school, but spare me if that pimple’s interfering with picture day.

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I'm not gay and unemployed! October 15, 2013 at 12:58 pm

Here’s some soap and a towel.

Nikki Sicks October 15, 2013 at 1:03 pm

Thanks, Sailor!!

UNcommon Sense October 16, 2013 at 7:38 am

AGAIN:

So, when the KKK demands a CPD unit to march in THEIR parade (equal protection/access), you won’t have a problem with THAT? Sorry, but security is one thing, requiring PARTICIPATION is another. One is the job, the other is a political statement.

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Patrick Jeffries October 16, 2013 at 12:44 pm

Maybe its not their religious beliefs that are offended…maybe its because ass banditry and carpet munching are wrong and distastefull to a lot of us a many levels….it could also help their career…a lot people do not subscribe to the homosexual agenda.

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Jackminer October 15, 2013 at 12:15 pm

Who gives a damn about a bunch of pillow biters walking down the road, when we have savages attacking us in 5 Points on a routine basis? I mean, really?

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ravenhaired vixen October 15, 2013 at 12:15 pm

Church & State…keep ’em separate dude. I bet if it was a “Miller Lite” parade all of CPD would be lining up and volunteering. They should be suspended.

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Cynthia October 15, 2013 at 12:23 pm

Was Lindsey there In person or spirit?

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CorruptionInColumbia October 15, 2013 at 4:56 pm

Probably neither. He is so deeply closeted that he pretends to hate gays and votes against any and every piece of legislation which would make their lot in life a little easier. This achieves the dual purpose of keeping him in the good graces of some easily-hoodwinked conservative and religious voters as well as making other easily-hoodwinked souls believe that he is straight.

It is an old and oft-repeated pattern seen with quite a few Republicans in various offices around the country over the last ten or so years.

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update October 15, 2013 at 12:24 pm

just curious, is decorating for such an event a “core function” of government

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9" October 15, 2013 at 12:49 pm

Good post,but I hate the gay pride parades;never been to one.They reinforce stereotypes,and represent a minority within a minority.The arts;books,TV,movies,etc,have done far more to affect peoples attitudes and create change.Drag queens,’gay friendly’ fag-hag comedians,and disco music are boring.I don’t have any gay friends who’d go to one of these events.Gays are as diverse as their straight counterparts.

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The Colonel October 15, 2013 at 4:12 pm

The only “Gay Pride Parade” I ever went to was the Olympia, Washington “Dykes on Bikes Parade”. Not sure what my riding buddies and I expected to see but what we got was gross rather than titillating (though lots of titties were “lating”). Rather an extreme group of young (and not so young) ladies basically reinforcing every stereotype you could think of.
I have studiously avoided them since, just as I avoid both “biker weeks” (again, prime examples of stereotypically bad behavior), Sturgis, Daytona and pretty much every form of associated behavior even though I ride.

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Coconut Grove October 15, 2013 at 7:45 pm

I accidentally ran into the largely though not exclusively gay King Mango Parade in Miami once. It was outlandish, on purpose, but in no way repulsive.

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Yelsewh October 15, 2013 at 1:01 pm

Assuming that FITS’ information is correct, the lieutenant and sergeant (especially the lieutenant) should have realized that, as members of management, part of their jobs would be participating in events like this which may not jibe with their personal beliefs. Don’t like it? That’s fine. Remain an officer.

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TyroneButterballs October 15, 2013 at 1:37 pm

Fire their hateful asses. Cops cannot discriminate.

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Uncommon Sense October 16, 2013 at 7:36 am

So, when the KKK demands a CPD unit to march in THEIR parade (equal protection/access), you won’t have a problem with THAT? Sorry, but security is one thing, requiring PARTICIPATION is another. One is the job, the other is a political statement.

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venomachine October 15, 2013 at 1:44 pm

I think the cops have better things to do.

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Wes October 15, 2013 at 1:45 pm

my fellow Homosexuals deserve equal protection from the police

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9" October 16, 2013 at 2:23 am Reply
The Colonel October 15, 2013 at 2:08 pm

I love a parade,the tramping of feet,
I love every beat I hear of a drum.
I love a parade, when I hear a band
I just want to stand and cheer as they come.
That rat-a tat-tat, the blare of a horn.
That rat-a tat-tat, a bright uniform;
The sight of a drill will give me a thrill,
I thrill at the skill of everything military.
I love a parade, a handful of vets,
A line of cadets or any brigade,
For I love a parade.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein October 15, 2013 at 4:11 pm

Anwar Sadat on line one.

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The Colonel October 15, 2013 at 4:41 pm

Classic study in “coup de tat”, probably the most efficiently planned and executed assassination in modern history.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein October 15, 2013 at 7:06 pm

*cough* JFK *cough*

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The Colonel October 16, 2013 at 2:31 am

Sadat’s security was much better than Kennedy’s. Kennedy’s assassination is one of the most remarkable displays of (bad) luck or marksmanship in history.

However, in comparison the assassination of Sadat was a far better planned mission with a full platoon of soldiers participating in the attack during a military parade. If you believe the Warren Commission, Oswald acted alone, firing from the book “suppository”.

TontoBubbaGoldstein October 16, 2013 at 2:21 pm

TBG takes a jaundiced, Keyser Soze view of the Kennedy assassination. The most successful part of the operation is that almost no one views it as a successful coup d’etat.

The Colonel October 17, 2013 at 3:46 am

True dat.

? October 15, 2013 at 5:54 pm

Ha! Nicely done.

I once caught one half of a pick pocketing duo at a Peruvian military parade in downtown Cusco. Unfortunately for our friend/victim it was the wrong half, and little known to me at the time, but they have “Tourist Police” for such occurrences…so in essence nothing happened…lol…and the other bum that got away had her wallet.

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Elfego October 15, 2013 at 4:35 pm

Like Ralphie said,it was not to work it was to march from what I have read. Please be up front SIC!

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Elfego October 15, 2013 at 4:37 pm

Sic,
Do you think the folks in Horry County should give the man a Parade that was caught humping his horse?

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Lenny October 15, 2013 at 5:34 pm

I cant see why not.

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Elfego October 15, 2013 at 6:21 pm

Maybe even the Key to the City. Yes! All right.

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Squishy123 October 15, 2013 at 7:22 pm

Maybe next year the cops assigned to the parade can do an elephant walk in support of the peter puffers.

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Jackie Chiles October 15, 2013 at 9:07 pm

What’s this? Fitsnews arguing FOR a government worker performing governmental services?

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mayorboob October 16, 2013 at 10:09 am

Just wondering, who the hell needs protection at a freaking parade anyway

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PolishBear October 17, 2013 at 10:25 am

Maybe you should ask LGBT Russians.

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Manray October 16, 2013 at 5:00 pm

Who is the grand marshal…Lindsey Graham?

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