London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Chair Brian Coleman and Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson are to join firefighters taking part in this weekend’s Pride parade.
The pair will be joining the march to promote the Brigade’s commitment to recruiting people from all the capital’s communities. This year the Brigade was ranked 13th in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index.
Before joining the march the pair will hosting a Pride breakfast at Soho Fire Station.
Councillor Coleman, who is also a London Assembly, said: “As the first openly gay Chairman of LFEPA, I am determined to get the message through that being gay in the fire brigade is just as ordinary as being gay in any other profession.”
However Coleman says there “is no room for complacency and there is still much to do before we have a truly diverse workforce. We are proud to be part of London’s Pride celebrations and look forward to working with the community.”
Commissioner Dobson said he was “really looking forward to taking part in the parade” adding that he was “keen to join firefighters and other Brigade staff to meet what I’ve heard is a very loud and welcoming crowd.”
“It’s so important to be part of events like Pride to make sure that we are reaching the LGBT audience with fire prevention messages, and to encourage people who may not have thought about a career working with us to do so.”
