|
|
|
|
| |
Action Center |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" news articles
|
|
|
FireFLAG/EMS press release and articles from the Advocate and New York Daily News quoting FireFLAG president Mike Vissichelli.
|
Contact: Mike Vissichelli, President, FireFLAG/EMS
Phone: 917/885-0127
Email: Mikeviss516@optonline.net
STATEMENT FROM FIREFLAG/EMS ON THE NEW FILM "I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK & LARRY"
New York, Wednesday, July 18, 2007 – Universal Pictures invited members of FireFLAG/EMS, the official fraternal organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members of the FDNY and the nation's oldest and largest LGBT firefighter organization, to a pre-screening of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry." The movie opens nationwide Friday, July 20.
Says Mike Vissichelli, President, FireFLAG/EMS:
"While 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry' is a broad comedy, the reality is there are gay firefighters in many departments across the country, including the FDNY. The 'coming out' process in the movie mirrors what I, and many of my colleagues, have gone through on the job. Initially we may have dealt with disbelief, disdain, and even prejudice from our fellow firefighters. But significantly, as in our experiences, the film shows the process gay firefighters go through on the job as they move towards acceptance by their fellow firefighters. The film shows the journey that gay firefighters go through in their careers, the brotherhood of firefighters, and ultimately their respect for one another based on actions and deeds."
"Over the years, the FDNY and its members have become more supportive of gay firefighters and have made strides in improving how they are treated on the job. FireFLAG/EMS supports this progress and is actively involved in the department's actions on gay-related issues."
"'Chuck and Larry' is, of course, a comedy and some of the humor may be considered offensive to some, but the growth of the principal characters during the course of the film is the ultimate measure of how to judge the intent and heart of the filmmakers."
About FireFLAG/EMS
Through education and peer support, the mission of FireFLAG/EMS is to unite, empower, and protect the interests and the general well being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender firefighters, fire officers, emergency medical technicians, EMS officers and paramedics who are active members and retired members of recognized fire/rescue services. FireFLAG/EMS also provides peer support groups, nationwide outreach, social events and other services to LGBT firefighters and emergency medical workers.
For more information, visit http://www.fireflag.net
|
By Chris Rovzar - Staff writer New York Daily News
Gay NYC firefighters weigh in on 'Chuck & Larry'."
 |
"I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," the just-opened Adam Sandler flick about two Brooklyn firemen (Sandler and Kevin James) pretending to be gay domestic partners to be eligible for benefits, has fanned flames of controversy among some activist groups worried the film will offend homosexuals.
But the real-life gay members of the FDNY say where there may be smoke, there's no fire.
"I thought it was good," said Mike Vissichelli, the president of FireFLAG, an advocacy group for gay and lesbian firefighters and rescue workers. He and several other members were invited to a screening Monday by Universal Pictures, and they liked it so much, they endorsed it on their Web site (fireflag.org).
Vissichelli, who said his group has "a couple hundred" members, said that the movie only dealt with one comical side of coming out in the FDNY, but that the comedy actually does that accurately and with care.
"At first, when Chuck and Larry try to pull off this scam, the other guys ignored them, wouldn't play basketball with them - and they even wrote a little petition to try to get them out of the firehouse," said Vissichelli, who's been in the department since 1993 and is assigned to Ladder 42 in the South Bronx.
"But when they come to their senses, they really come around to support them. That's what usually happens when a gay firefighter comes out in real life."
As for the easy gay jokes, Vissichelli said people who come to the film equipped with senses of humor won't mind.
"No jokes really offended me," he said. "They had some of the old stereotype jokes included in the movie, but it was done in such a way that generally you got a good feeling about it."
Plus, Vissichelli said, there is the very real possibility that "Chuck and Larry" "will open the eyes of the general public." |
|
The ADVOCATE.COM
"Gay firefighters give thumbs-up to Chuck & Larry"
|
 |
The nation’s oldest advocacy group for LGBT firefighters has likened the upcoming film I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry to the real process of coming out to coworkers.
"The coming-out process in the movie mirrors what I, and many of my colleagues, have gone through on the job," said Mike Vissichelli, president of FireFLAG/EMS in a statement. “Initially we may have dealt with disbelief, disdain, and even prejudice from our fellow firefighters. But significantly, as in our experiences, the film shows the process gay firefighters go through on the job as they move toward acceptance by their fellow firefighters."
Vissichelli said that the Fire Department of New York’s efforts have improved to be more accommodating to its LGBT employees.
"While I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry is a broad comedy," he said, “the reality is, there are gay firefighters in many departments across the country, including the FDNY." (The Advocate)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Action Center |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Important Links |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PRINT/SAVE
EMAIL
