Del. Asst. Fire Chief Suspended for Homophobic Comment on Facebook
Lewes Fire Department in Delaware has suspended its Assistant Fire Chief from his volunteer position over homophobic comments he posted to Facebook on Sunday, WDEL reports.
While attending a drag performance by Magnolia Applebottom in Rehoboth Beach, Bill Buckaloo used a homophobic slur in a post that has gone viral: "The shit I get talked in to.....Matt, talked us to go to a faggot show!" The post was shared by Magnolia Applebottom on Instagram, with a response by the drag performer tagging the Lewes Fire Department:
"What a sad turn of events... the @lewes_fire chief thought it was ok to go to a gay owned and operated establishment... and go to a show hosted and produced by a award winning gay entertainer and use that F word on social media... Your job is to protect the people in our community not bring us down. Do better!!! Be better!!! And we recognize your inappropriate behavior."
The Lewes Fire Department said in a statement that the matter is under investigation:
"Lewes Fire Department's membership is diverse and lives within the community they serve working daily with the public to provide education and assistance emergently and non-emergently to its citizens. The department is proud of its long-standing history of protecting the community and will work diligently in restoring any confidence lost by Mr. Buckaloo's comments."
On November 16, Buckaloo issued an apology on Facebook about his "very inappropriate comment... distasteful choice of words" and "lack of good character and judgment." Furthermore, he "offended a lot of people including myself. I have no excuse what's so ever [sic]. I am truly sorry for all the harm I have caused."