slowly but surely.

Angharad

Welcome, sister.

Stanman May Your Light Forever Shine

—

Stanman May Your Light Forever Shine

Congratulations to Brooke and the NYFD... (my opinion here) Firefighters are true heroes, more so than police or even front line soldiers. when everyone else is fleeing from a burning (unstable collapsing) building, the firefighters are rushing in to save lives and property. Brooke is doubly brave... Massive Kudos to her.
Diana

It is about time government here in the states accepted at least one of us for who we are. When I was in Australia in 2008, I went to the pride march and the park afterwards. In Australia there are openly gay and transgendered police, firefighters, social workers, doctors, nurses, paramedics,and various states representatives both local and in parliament. Why the US has to always be last is beyond me.

"With confidence and forbearance, we will have the strength to move forward."

Love & hugs,
Barbara

"If I have to be this girl in me, Then I have the right to be."

It's good to see that the FDNY is taking such a positive tone with Brooke and hopefully a sign of things to come. I'm also pleased to see the media being responsible and not publishing her full details in accordance with her wishes, so well done to the NY Post. That being said, I'm guessing the media doesn't run an article everytime a white male becomes a firefighter so hopefully by the time we have a second or third or fourth transgender firefighter it won't be a big deal and won't get reported. It'll just be people getting on with their lives.

I thank FDNY for being so proactive in accepting us for who we are too bad it has to be a desk job insted of a field job but I guss small steps & if it avoids problems then.... I guss its for the best but it all because of a few that just don't understand & insenstive to us. WE will over come this & WE WILL NEVER stop trying to gain acceptance from those that don't understand us. Again Well done FDNY!!!
Love Samantha Renee Heart

Good to know that you can still put out a fire even if your hose is inside-out.

A longtime FDNY member said the majority of firefighters will do the same for Brooke, although some Bravest might have a hard time dealing with her gender change. Some insensitive colleagues have taken to calling her “it,” two department sources said. “Especially among those who know the [family], this won’t amount to a hill of beans to them,” the veteran member said. “There’s a lot of respect for the family.”

“I am appreciative of the support that the FDNY has given me during this time in my life. However, it is my expressed wish that the details of my personal and professional life remain private,” she said in a written statement. Her family has a long history of firefighting, starting at least three generations ago with Brooke’s grandfather, and continuing to her father, an FDNY officer who responded to the Twin Towers on 9/11 from NY Post today.

I wish I was half as brave as Brooke, whom I would only hope would accept me as her sister. What a courageous woman!

Dio vi benedica tutti
Con grande amore e di affetto
Andrea Lena