They obviosly weren't the PC Brigade then, were they, Zen?
(Sorry, little joke at the expense of indignant Daily Mail readers, there)
However, that item (about firefighters refusing to attend a Gay Pride festival to hand out Fire Safety leaflets), has been much reported and mainly mis-reported since it happened.
If some papers were to be believed, it was almost implied that the firefighters were asked to wear nothing but pink thongs.
The reality is somewhat different - being a large gathering - they were asked to be in attendance to hand out safety leaflets -as they are often seen at large gatherings doing the same.
(As I have seen at 'Free Festivals', 'Country Shows' etc. etc.)
Would there be as much sympathy if they had refused these latter events because they "didn't like the music" or were "morally opposed to exploitation of animals in the countryside"?
Or would fears of "being the subject of taunts and jokes" by these country folk be a 'legitimate concern' for them to refuse?