By John Mack Freeman
Sometimes, a court battle can take forever, but a win is nonetheless gratifying. In 2004, two Rhode Island firefighters, Theodore Fabrizio and Stephen Dennino, drove a firetruck in the Providence Pride Parade as part of their official duties working for the Providence Fire Department. The two sued the department, stating that driving the trucks infringed on their civil rights as they did not “support or condone homosexuality.”
Well, last week, a Rhode Island court threw their case out as having no merit. Judge William Robinson ruled that the parade was a “legitimate work assignment” and that they were relatively anonymous at the time. As such, they were not entitled to relief.