Monday, August 13, 2018 - 3:54pm

The City of Madison Fire Department is proud to serve and care for each and every member of our city’s diverse community. And we are proud of the City’s efforts, as well as the efforts of Madison’s many community organizations, to encourage positive interactions and true appreciation for all people, inclusive of their diverse and rich backgrounds.

We are fully supportive of the LGBTQ+ community and have enthusiastically participated in Madison’s Pride Parade in the past. However, we also stand in full support of our colleagues of the Madison Police Department. In light of the disappointing decision by OutReach to rescind the invitation to the Madison Police Department to participate in this year’s Pride Parade, the Madison Fire Department, in solidarity with our women and men in blue, must respectfully and regretfully decline to participate in this year’s parade.

We understand that the decision made by OutReach was a difficult one and there are many factors that contributed to its decision. Likewise, our decision was a difficult one as well. It is our hope that we all continue to work together to make Madison a community where everyone feels safe, accepted, and welcome.

Mayor Soglin joins in supporting the Department in this statement.