Guys, Guys, Guys…Have we not learned ANYTHING in the past couple of years? What you say on Facebook DOES NOT stay on Facebook! What you say in your social media networks can and will be seen by others. Social media is such a powerful tool and must be used correctly.
Every time I turn around, another firefighter or group of firefighters is learning their lesson about social media.
However, Facebook isn’t the problem…the problem is with the firefighters.
Kevin Kennedy will participate in anger managment and diversity training as well as suspension without pay after anti-gay facebook comments. Photo from Tennessean.com
Take for instance, the latest “prank” in Macon-Bibb, Georgia. The problem was only made worse by posting it on youtube. The actual root of the problem is that firefighters thought this type of “prank” was ok. It was not.
In the case this post is about, a Nashville Fire Department paramedic, Kevin Kennedy, thought the following was acceptable:
The department was notified on Aug. 3 that Kennedy stated on his Facebook page and on a Nashville Fire Department Emergency Medical Services page that two EMS workers were “queers” and that they should “crawl back into the closet,” said Deputy Chief Kim Lawson, spokeswoman for the department. From the Tennessean.com read more
Making the comment was not acceptable. Posting it on Facebook for everyone to see was also not acceptable. Has this guy lost his marbles? Not only did he put it on his profile page, but he followed up with it on a Facebook page for the Nashville Fire Department Emergency Medical Services…
Quit giving the brave men and women who make up the Fire Service a bad name.
Kennedy has been suspended without pay and will have to attend an anger management program and diversity training.
Kennedy is a 20 year veteran of the department and has the option to appeal his discipline.
I have read your article about this paramedic and maybe he should be ashamed about what he said, but what about his rights. you did not say if he was on his computer in his house voicing his opinion. Or does freedom of speech only apply to people who are liberal and not people who have conservative beliefs if this guy was praising homosexuality would it be ok then. What happened to free speech I know it may not be pc to say anything bad about anyone but I guess it does matter what you say and who you say it about LET FREEDOM RING.
Personally, I thought it was a stupid thing to do on a facebook page for the company he works for.
I understand your point about free speech, however those of us who work in public safety and other sectors do not enjoy all of those rights if we want to stay employed.
In this case, I am not so sure it was the comment he made or who he made it about. Apparently he made the comment about some of his coworkers. It was probably libel, potentially a hate crime if some want to stretch it out.
It was a stupid thing to do, that is for sure!
He should hire a lawyer and sue the city and county for slander and liable and for violating his constitutional rights of Free Speech . Anigay statements may be politically incorrect but we still have freedom of speech and he and other citizens should have the right to say so.. Being Gay is not universally accepted and never will be as long as society is prejudice toward things that are NOT natural or medically/biologically proven to be so. The Gay agenda is trying to force acceptance of Gays on the American society at all costs..just look at the gays in hollywood and the media….