LOUD AND PROUD

Lord Mayor Hazel Chu and A/C/O Greg O’Dwyer with DFB members and PRIDE organisers.

A/C/O Greg O’Dwyer.

DFB helped share the message of inclusion and diversity as part of Pride month in June.

To celebrate Pride month, Dublin Fire Brigade gave one of its fire appliances a new look, and on June 17 unveiled the vehicle wrapped in the Dublin Pride colours in a socially-distanced event outside the Mansion House.

Pride month is the most prominent event of the year run by the Dublin LGBTQ+ community, and helps to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ people, promote diversity and inclusion in society, and champion equality for all people. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the annual parade, as well as many other events supporting the cause, were unable to go ahead on the city’s streets and instead took place online.

To help ensure there was still a visible presence of support, DFB redesigned the HQ-based appliance that was seen traversing the city as it responded to emergency calls across the city, with the instantly recognisable Pride colours and the slogan: Fire doesn’t discriminate. Neither do we, emblazoned across the vehicle for two weeks.

DFB ambulances carried a similar message saying: Caring with Pride.

Firefighters and officers from DFB were joined at the launch by Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu, and CEO of Dublin Pride Jed Dowling.

At the launch, A/C/O Greg O’Dwyer said: “Dublin Fire Brigade have been involved with Dublin Pride for the past number of years and we are delighted to unveil this fire appliance as a visible symbol of support for the celebration of Pride. We carry the same care and respect for all citizens and visitors

Flying the flag for PRIDE. CFO Dennis Keeley with the DFB message of diversity.

The HQ-based fire appliance carrying the PRIDE flag colours.

to Dublin without discrimination. As an organisation, we too have a responsibility to ensure a workplace founded on equality without fear of discrimination.”

Saying she was honoured to officially launch Dublin Fire Brigade’s Pride fire appliance, then-Lord Mayor Hazel Chu said: “Dublin’s firefighters and paramedics are always there for the citizens and visitors of Dublin and help everyone in need equally.”

Jed Dowling said: “Dublin Fire Brigade has always played an important role in planning our annual Pride Parade. The fact that in a year when we won’t have our usual parade, they would cover a fire appliance in our flag to help us send our message of pride, diversity and inclusion across the city, makes us very proud of all its firefighters and paramedics.”

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