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NEW BEDFORD — A profane social media post from Lt. Chuck Bailey of the New Bedford Fire Department derided drag performers and was condemned as ignorant by members of the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network and fellow first responders.
“It is a mental illness,” Bailey posted about drag performance, spurred on by the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. “The crossdressing drag s— is just utter bull—. F— them all.” Bailey also called homosexual relationships “sinful.”
Andy Pollock, president of the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network said that, “Ignorance, especially from a public official, is just not acceptable.” He continued, “We welcome dialogue, discussion, and learning. But this visceral response is not what we welcome.”
Bailey’s comments, posted on Facebook on Saturday, were originally called out by Brian Gallant, a fellow New Bedford firefighter who identifies as LGBTQ. Gallant characterized Bailey’s post as “disgusting garbage” in online comments. “Don’t pretend to be my friend,” Gallant wrote.
Bryan Oliveira, a former New Bedford police officer, also shared a screenshot of Bailey’s comment on Facebook, and said, “I don’t have the patience for anyone’s ignorance.”
Oliveira declined to provide further comments due to his ongoing lawsuit against the city of New Bedford and current and former police officials, in which he alleges a pattern of workplace discrimination based on sexuality. Oliveira filed suit in July 2021 and is awaiting summary judgment in the Bristol County Superior Court.
Pollock, of the South Coast LGBTQ+ network, said his organization has conducted training for New Bedford’s police department and other agencies with the aim of increasing tolerance. “The goal is to hopefully educate people like this fellow,” Pollock said.
Lt. Bailey could not be reached for further comment, but he responded to his fellow firefighter, Gallant, in additional Facebook comments. “Don’t expect me to cowtail to the mentally ill or those who could give two f—s for my religious beliefs,” Bailey wrote. “We are all entitled to our religious beliefs.” Bailey’s original comment said that he believed homosexuality was “sinful,” but he has learned to accept same-sex couples.
Rev. Donnie Anderson, the pastor at Pilgrim United Congregational Church in New Bedford, who identifies as LGBTQ+, said that Bailey’s comments were offensive. “This is shameful, and given his prejudicial statements I would call for his immediate resignation. How in any meaningful way can he ‘accept’ us and then go on to say the things he did? He must resign. I hope our elected officials will join in this call for his resignation.”
Fire Chief Scott Kruger did not respond to requests to comment before publication. City spokesperson Jonathan Darling provided a statement over email, writing, “The social media post is being reviewed for any violation of departmental policy.”
New Bedford fire lieutenants, such as Bailey, supervise multiple firefighters and can oversee firehouses.
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) declined to offer comment on the specific situation, but this month published final guidelines on harassment in the workplace. A press release states that “all Massachusetts employees are entitled to work in an environment free from unlawful harassment, which is a form of employment discrimination prohibited by Massachusetts law.”
MCAD’s guidance says personal social media posts can affect workplace harassment claims. It calls social media use “an ever-present and pervasive aspect of virtually every employee’s workplace and personal life, even for those with jobs that do not interface daily with computers.”
The city of New Bedford’s personnel policies, which cover the fire department, state, “Discriminatory harassment consists of unwelcome conduct, whether verbal or physical, that is based on a characteristic protected by law.” It protects sexual orientation and gender identity.
Massachusetts residents experiencing workplace discrimination or seeking workplace training can use online resources from the MCAD.
Email Colin Hogan at chogan@newbedfordlight.org
First Amendment Rights? As defined in the Constitution, sure! But then there’s “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness! Beyond that, we live in an infinitely complex universe, not just world, Country, State or City of New Bedford! There are laws in the universe we are recently beginning to understand. For a public figure to go ‘loud and proud’ about his detesting other members of humakind does show a crisis. For a public figure to invoke religious beliefs, can be eye opening. Aren’t there religious beliefs that invoke strapping explosives on, then blowing yourself up? In this case, the subject did an internet posting to arrive there. In most religions, god is perfect. Would a perfect god intentionally create imperfect humans? I still can’t figure out that ‘god logic’! What I have figured out is that everyone is unique, and they truly need to be respected! This can be difficult if respect was not a virtue in your life growing up! Regarding Straight or L,G,B,T,Q,+ genders, there are a few subsets that aren’t listed. What about the genuinely Nice or genuinely Negative people, along with the A-holes? They’re around, you’ve seen them. They can exist solely on their own merits! We should respect them! Looks like sensitivity training is on order. If a Presidential candidate doesn’t feel it, how can a Fire Lieutenant in New Bedford do the same?
While he’s probably always held these hateful beliefs it’s become far more acceptable in the last eight years for those on the political and religious right to air their prejudices in public. It’s his right as an American to hold whatever opinions he wants, no matter how vile and ignorant they might be, but it calls into question whether he’s still capable of performing his job without letting his personal religious ideology interfere.
Makes one wonder if he can and should continue to perform his duties. What if he rolls up to a house fire and sees a pride flag out front, is he going to spring into action or say, eh, let the “sinner” burn?
My thoughts exactly
That’s his opinion his only mistake was to make it public. Of course he can perform his duties.
Do you really think that pride flag would not have a negative effect on his response?
Is this the kind of person that we the people of New Bedford want to employ?
As a cop?
As mayor?
Any employment handbook will indicate that those who represent any organization, especially those in a leadership position, should not condone or promote a workplace culture of discrimination, nor make any public statements where discrimination is evident. Having been a Human Resources officer and workplace consultant for over 20 years, anyone in a leadership position who publicly discriminates against any group covered under the ADA should be immediately removed from their position until a thorough investigation occurs from either the Human Resources or Compliance Departments. Also of concern, is the level of anger that is evident within his comments. There is an expectation that those in leadership positions should have required Cultural Sensitivity training. Another questions arises, has he promoted or condoned this type of prejudice within his department? Most handbooks indicate that employees should not voice their personal opinions in any type of public or social media platform.
My expectation is that this situation should be addressed sooner than later, or the overall health of the whole organization should be questioned.
Isn’t there equality of rights under the Constitution? We have a candidate for the Presidency of the United States, who openly on a daily basis invokes race diversity, divisiveness in social stature, supports religions that oppress individual rights, mispronounces people’s names using vulgar derogatory language! If the big guy can get away with it, why can’t the little blip?
Will he get away with it?
He didn’t in 2020.
He got fired.
The mayor and public safety chiefs(police, fire, EMS) need to come forward and publicly reassure members of New Bedford’s LGBTQ community and all other minority communities for that matter that the city’s first responders will not let personal prejudices interfere with their best efforts to render aid or service.
I also agree that his mistake was to voice his opinion. He has a right to that. I personally have two grandchildren and would definitely not be involved in any type of drag queen events. I don’t believe it would affect his job performance one bit.
He would have a problem running in to a building flying a PRIDE flag?
One bit?
veritas:
a president is a leader, a leader whose policies reflect common sense and compassion for ALL. our last president did not catagorize us into neat little compartments, but rather all of us should be respected. promoting and encouraging a twisted display of a known spiritual
icon on the world stage is more hateful and disrespectful that any personal views by any local official
that you could choose to to read.
this public world displays was intentionally broadcast without any concerns for the majority audience
and forced us to sit and watch grotesque versions of christianity.
that my friend was the real crime
his comments do not reflect on his ability to save lives, but rather an official voicing his displseasure at a system that villifies the common sense and respect of many of us who found that olympic display grotesque. maybe TOLERANCE ia 2-way street.
Would you find the same comments acceptable coming from the Mayor?
Chief of Police?
Health Director?
when crossing the line of MUTUAL respect (like paris did) and not expecting a certain degree of verbal outrage? we were forced to watch it (unknowingly) but you werent forced to read comments. you insulted this man beliefs , our beliefs, while you expected no reaction? it doesnt work like that and you should be ashamed of your selves. otherwise good human beings, that have generously contributed to public service and have displayed valor in saving lives
are villified after that group of people insulted our belief system.
maybe paris could have used a lesson in respect. give respect get respect. give insult get insult.
they should have reached across the aisle instead of crossing lines. thats respectful
Grow up. All of you.