Nashville Paramedic Suspended for Anti-Gay Postings

Jim Burroway

September 22nd, 2011

A twenty-year veteran paramedic for the Nashville Fire Department was suspended after making anti-gay comments on his own Facebook page, as well as on the Nashville Fire Department Emergency Medical Services’ web page. Paramedic Keven Kennedy wrote that homosexuality was a perversion and that two gay EMS workers should “crawl back into the closet.” According to The Tennessean:

“We have a diverse group of employees in the fire department who respond to the needs of a diverse community,” (Deputy Chief Kim) Lawson said. “This disrupts the order of discipline. We have an important job. These actions in no way are tolerated.”

Kennedy, who lives in Shelbyville, had no prior disciplinary record and earned “acceptable” performance evaluations over his career with the department, said Robin Brown, Metro Human Resources spokeswoman.

He will be required to pay for and show proof of his participation in an anger management program and diversity training before he returns to work, Lawson said. Before the suspension, Kennedy was charged with five counts of misconduct, including participation in a pattern of harassment toward a Metro employee and using threat of violence or intimidation toward others, according to his charge sheet.

Hyhybt

September 21st, 2011

If it had been only on his own Facebook and speaking generally, that would be different… but on his employer’s site, and on top of that going after specific coworkers?

elaygee

September 22nd, 2011

[Timothy: Unbased and bigoted presumption removed]

Christopher

September 22nd, 2011

Typical of someone from Shelbyville. That’s why I stay in Springfield… Ogdenville and North Haverbrook are still down for the count…

Eric

September 22nd, 2011

He looks too obese to be a fireman. Don’t you have to be physically fit?

justme

September 22nd, 2011

Christopher, that made my morning.

Eric, exactly how obese does the average fire department require their employees to be?

Thank fictional god for social media. These morons can’t help but expose themselves. It makes weeding them out of the workplace much easier.

Roa

September 22nd, 2011

The statement by Deputy Chief Kim Lawson: “We have a diverse group of employees in the fire department who respond to the needs of a diverse community…” sums it up for me. Can you imagine a racist showing up to help an ethnic minority? We’re all entitled to our opinions but the thought of this sort of bigot showing up to help me in my time of need makes me agree with the Fire Department.

Regan DuCasse

September 22nd, 2011

Wonder if the ADF or whoever will get wind of this and try to make him out to be a “first responder hero who is being persecuted for his deeply held beliefs.”

We of course understand the gravity of someone like this embarrassing their agency, to say nothing of perhaps endangering the public he has such disdain for.
Can’t be having that.
He’s lucky he only has to endure a disciplinary action. Perhaps the agency doesn’t have enough skilled personnel around not to be able to fire his ass.

By his record, he sounds like someone who is a liability already.

ralph

September 22nd, 2011

“We’re all entitled to our opinions but the thought of this sort of bigot showing up to help me in my time of need makes me agree with the Fire Department.”

So it’s not that he wouldn’t help you, but that you wouldn’t accept his life-saving efforts because he’s a “bigot”. If he’s a “bigot” he can’t do his job, despite the fact that he’s done it for twenty years.

And finally, the compare this to race, which is just STUPID. Skin color is not comparable to sexual BEHAVIOR. Even you admit that there’s a difference between orientation and sexual behavior.

Maybe we need to start firing some of the anti-Christian bigots who post here. Find out where you work and have you terminated. I don’t think you can do your jobs with that kind of hate in your heart.

Oh, and here’s another one. Child suspended from school for saying that homosexuality is wrong. It’s just another one of those things that Burroway and Kincaid say (a) can’t happen in the United States because we have a first amendement, and (b) never happens anyway. They’re full of crap on both points.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/high-school-school-punishes-student-for-saying-homosexuality-is-wrong/

You are not “tolerant”. You can do what you wish in the “privacy of your own bedroom” but NO ONE HAS TO APPROVE OF IT. They can disapprove vocally.

Canadian style kangaroo court “human rights” tribunals are coming. Speech codes like those in Europe are already here. We’ll get there incrementally, Burroway and Kincaid assuring us each step of the way that we aren’t headed in the direction that any fool can see we’re going.

Priya Lynn

September 22nd, 2011

Ralph said “And finally, the compare this to race, which is just STUPID. Skin color is not comparable to sexual BEHAVIOR.”.

Ralph, gays and lesbians are oppressed regardless of their behavior, they’re oppressed simply because they have same sex attractions. It is no different than race, in both situations people are victimized for harmless features of who they are. If you think its wrong to discriminate against someone on the basis of race its just as wrong to do it on the basis of sexual orientation.

Priya Lynn

September 22nd, 2011

And Ralph, as far as your bigoted school child hero goes, he would have the same right to say black people are inferior and he’d be reprimanded for that in exactly the same way as he should be. Its no sacrifice for a student to refrain from denegrating others, denegrating others isn’t important to his self esteem or central to his pursuit of happiness.

Erin

September 22nd, 2011

To add to what Priya Lynn said about Ralph’s ridiculous point about the school student, he demonstrated his ignorance when he claimed children in a school setting have a first amendment right to say whatever they want in school. Wrong. That’s such a pet peeve of mine. “No one can discipline me at school or fire me from a job for saying something! First amendment bitches!” The first amendment has to do with protecting citizens from punishment under the law for their speech. Examples of such punishments are fines, arrests, and lawsuits. This does not cover what you say within an institution such as a school or a workplace. Correct your ignorance please. The paramedic who was suspended did not make nasty comments because he witnessed gay behavior. He made nasty comments about gay people and you know it, Ralph. Also, anyone who regularly reads this site knows most commenters and Timothy Kincaid are far from “anti-Christian.” The paramedic said nothing about religion. We are against people who say hateful things about gays. Some of them use religion as an excuse, some do not. Basically Ralph, you’ve said nothing of merit; Absolutely nothing that could even remotely resemble a valid counter-argument. Gay people exist and are just as human as anyone else. Sometimes they have relationships like other human beings. Grow up and deal with it.

Timothy Kincaid

September 23rd, 2011

Ralph,

Maybe we need to start firing some of the anti-Christian bigots who post here. Find out where you work and have you terminated. I don’t think you can do your jobs with that kind of hate in your heart.

Anti-Christian bigots don’t post at Box Turtle Bulletin. It isn’t allowed. In fact, some here would tell you that I err far on the side of Christians when removing offensive comments.

But you, Ralph, just assume that bigotry is part of the package. Because you defend, support, and endorse bigotry, you assume that everyone else does the same.

But no, Ralph, my standards are far far higher than yours. My Christianity disallows hatred and bigotry – even if yours doesn’t.

Oh, and here’s another one. Child suspended from school for saying that homosexuality is wrong. It’s just another one of those things that Burroway and Kincaid say (a) can’t happen in the United States because we have a first amendement, and (b) never happens anyway. They’re full of crap on both points.

I find it fascinating to read what I “say”, especially when I’ve never said it.

I wonder, Ralph, do you own a Bible. Or, if not, have you ever heard of the ten commandments? One of them forbids bearing false witness.

Ya know, like telling people that I’ve said something that I’ve never said. And then announcing that I’m full of crap for saying the thing I never said.

Don’t worry Ralph, both God and I will forgive you once you’ve demonstrated true repentance.

I’ll be right here waiting.

Erin

September 24th, 2011

Timothy, looks like he’s the typical troll that says stupid things and then bolts. He won’t stick around for the debate because he knows his argument tactics are dishonest and people here are intelligent and will tear them apart.

Leave A Comment

All comments reflect the opinions of commenters only. They are not necessarily those of anyone associated with Box Turtle Bulletin. Comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

(Required)
(Required, never shared)

PLEASE NOTE: All comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

 

Latest Posts

The Things You Learn from the Internet

"The Intel On This Wasn't 100 Percent"

From Fake News To Real Bullets: This Is The New Normal

NC Gov McCrory Throws In The Towel

Colorado Store Manager Verbally Attacks "Faggot That Voted For Hillary" In Front of 4-Year-Old Son

Associated Press Updates "Alt-Right" Usage Guide

A Challenge for Blue Bubble Democrats

Baptist Churches in Dallas, Austin Expelled Over LGBT-Affirming Stance

Featured Reports

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.

Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate

When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.

Paul Cameron’s World

In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.

From the Inside: Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out”

On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.

Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"

The Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing The Myths

At last, the truth can now be told.

Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!

And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.

Testing The Premise: Are Gays A Threat To Our Children?

Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.

Straight From The Source: What the “Dutch Study” Really Says About Gay Couples

Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.

The FRC’s Briefs Are Showing

Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.

Daniel Fetty Doesn’t Count

Daniel FettyThe FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.