Fire Hall Gay Bashing Leaves NY Fireman Critical

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/01/010604fireBeatig.htm

Four New York Fire Department officers and two firefighters are under investigation in the vicious beating of a fireman at a Staten Island firehouse.

Witness have given conflicting statements about how the attack began, but reports indicate it started when firefighter Michael Silvestri yelled a gay epithet at fellow firefighter Robert Walsh. Walsh is said to have then yelled something back at Silvestri who has subjected Walsh to anti-gay verbal abuse in the past. Silvestri, according to several firefighters then picked up a metal chair and beat Walsh senseless.

Walsh's face was smashed and is in hospital in critical condition. Silvestri has been charged with assault.

[GCP]

1. What a bastard

I hope they throw the book at Silvestri, and anyone who helped him.

:grr:

[nostamj]

2. damn!

i heard this story several times on NYC local news...

not ONCE did I hear there was a 'gay' angle to it!

[tkulesa]

3. Damn.

I saw some news articles on this and not one mentioned the gay angle. I knew they were being unusually quiet about possible motivatoins and figured there had to be something they wanted to cover up. Now I know.

We can't have anyone thinking that there is anyone gay among New York's Bravest (God forbid), and we certainly can't think any of our fine men there would be bigots.

[Chovexani]

4. The FDNY is nepotistic and corrupt

I saw this story on local NYC news several times and not once have I heard anything about it being a gay bashing either. It figures you'd have to go to a gay site to get the real story.

One silver lining to this mess is that it looks like they're finally going to do something about the epidemic of residency violations in the FDNY. For those that don't know, there is a residency requirement for being an NY firefighter, that is you have to live either in the 5 boroughs, Long Island or several approved nearby counties. It turns out that our gay basher lives in Jersey or something and the department is going to do an investigation that is likely to spread to other firehouses. It's about fucking time. There's so many firefighters that live in Jersey and put down a relative's Staten Island or whatever address it's not even funny. It keeps out actual city residents who want to join.

The FDNY is quite possibly one of the worst organizations in the world when it comes to nepotism. For years and years just about the only way you could get in is if you knew somebody or you had family in the department (which, incidentally, is how the department managed to stay something like 98% white). The untold story about 9/11 is that so many firefighters died because so many of them had fathers, brothers, etc in the department and they ran off half-cocked when they found out the WTC was on fire, not heeding any kind of instruction or whatever. You had whole families that got killed. The shortage that happened afterwards resulted in the FDNY trying to recruit more minorities, women, etc. This new residency probe should help matters too, but I'ma little cynical about how far it will really go.

Actually I'm not really surprised they didn't go into the gay angle of the story on the news. Ever since 9/11 you can't say anything bad about "our heroes" especially in NY. In spite of the myriad lurid stories that have come out since then about guys leaving their families for 9/11 widows and whatnot. I'm not trying to trash all firefighters, etc. because most of them aren't slimeballs but I'm just saying there's an awful lot of things that get swept under the carpet about the FDNY.

--C

[SemperEadem]

5. Oh, you mean those heros of 911?

[Bombero1956]

6. another angle

Another amazing aspect to me is that some people insist on putting us on a pedestal. As a firefighter I know that we're no better nor worse than anyone else and that we're a reflection of society as a whole. Some take the hero label to heart and don't want to hear anything bad about our profession. Many of us avoid the hero label like the plague because it gets thrown around way too much. Next month will be the start of my 26th year as a firefighter and in that time I've worked with some very good people and other who I wouldn't give the time of day to. It boils down to the "say it ain't so" syndrome. I'm here to tell anyone who hasn't heard it yet that firefighters can be assholes too.

[salin]

11. A bit of perspective ... thanks

:-)

[BiggJawn]

12. Yeah, but STILL...

You're right, Gargoyle. I've seen it all in the ranks, All kinds of guys, I've known Gay Firefighters, I've know Firefighters I suspected of being KKK. I've known guys who were as bad at keeping a marriage together as I am.

But you know what? When I lived in Indy, I knew that if you saw an IFD truck with a "5" or a "7" on the side roll up, you were gonna get the world's best Firefighting. That's not to say the other houses weren't good, it's just that 5 and 7 were MY neighbourhood houses...

You guys are human, with just one tiny diference....
You still run into places everybody else is hauling balls out of.

Thanks!

[oasis]

7. Silvestri is the kind of jerk who would boo a NY senator at a Fireman's

memorial to 9/11.

[bhairava]

8. It gets worse

The worst part of the story is that Wlash was denied care because an ambulance was not immediately called and a false report was filed (alledging he fell down stairs). Clearly care was delayed as they tried to get their stories straight plus alcohol might have been involved. The man is now in a coma. Walsh's family has been in contact with the fire departmant and claims to have forgiven them (!) and harbor no ill will (!). Clearly they either were approached about a settlement or else they are uncomfortable about Walsh's supposed sexuality being discussed and speculated about in the media.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi bhairava!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[saltpoint]

9. This story --

-- depresses the hell out of me. Are any NYC DU posters following this? Has Mayor Bloomburg issued any statement? How about any of the gay advocacy groups?

[annagull]

10. How absolutely horrible

Prayers and blessings to the Walsh family and friends. Hard to believe someone in the business of saving lives could do something like this to a fellow human being, much less a fellow firefighter.

[maxanne]

13. this is reprehensible

I hope these men spend a long time in orange jumpsuits. Bastards.

[WillyT]

15. Lock Him Up !!!

Everytime I think we've evolved, I get a grand disappointment.

This is one of those times!!!

:grr::nuke::mad: