The City of Greensboro appears to be bringing back the old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy with a twist.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was the official policy of the US military for non-heterosexual military personnel during the Clinton administration.
The twist is that Greensboro’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is for heterosexual employees.
Just like the Clinton-era policy, Greensboro doesn’t object to people being heterosexual, as long as they don’t talk about it.
Greensboro Fire Captain Dustin Jones violated that policy on his personal Facebook page and reports are that earlier this month he was fired on the spot. Jones is a decorated firefighter and had 16 years in the department.
Reportedly, there were no complaints about his work. Jones, in a Facebook video, states that he was fired mainly because he posted a meme on his personal Facebook page that has a photo of a female bride and a male groom.Above the photo is the title “Straight Pride,” and below the photo it says, “it’s Natural, it’s worked for Thousands of years” and, in bold, “And you Can Make Babies.”
Judging from the actions of the Fire Department, it is not a problem that Jones is straight, but just like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” he isn’t supposed to talk about it, and certainly not indicate that he has pride in being straight with a humorous meme.
By contrast, the Greensboro City Council passed a resolution in December 2022 recognizing June as “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ+) History Month,” and while that is the official title, the city calls June “Pride” month. The City of Greensboro has posted a video on the city website where the narrator states, “This month we are celebrating pride, and what better place to celebrate than in front of and in the Guilford Green Foundation and the LGBTQ Center.”
So, the City of Greensboro celebrates “pride” for the LGBTQ community, but because Jones indicated that he was proud to be straight on his personal Facebook page, his employment was terminated. Jones wasn’t disciplined. He wasn’t asked to take his Facebook post down or even counseled on why being proud of being straight was objectionable. According to what Jones said, he was fired on the spot.
Jones has a groundswell of support from the community and has said he will appeal his termination.
“Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” didn’t work for the military and it is unlikely that the City of Greensboro’s twisted version of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will work much better.
Even City of Greensboro employees have First Amendment rights, which is something the Greensboro City Council might want to consider, regardless of how much they disagree with an employee who has the audacity to imply that he is proud to be straight.
This is why the city needs the review board just passed by the state legislature. Sounds like the city violated its own due process and disciplinary processes. Sue them. It looks like disparate treatment.
If this does not prove how much the city of Greensboro has gone around the bend when it comes to kowtowing to the extreme, leftist minority mobs, I don’t know what does.This is yet another reason why I am so thankful that I am no longer required to pay GSO city taxes.
No Chris, chris, and all the other names you use as well as those that rally to you, I am not homophobic, racist, a white supremacist, or whatever else you choose to throw at me, and quite frankly don’t care what you or your little band of narrow minded supporters label me.
To the tax paying citizens of GSO I say you don’t vote, so you are getting what you have asked for through your lack of desire to go to the polls signalling these “civic leaders” to do what THEY want to do. You asked for it, you got it.
This is yet another example of how you will be treated if are not one of THEM.
I only use the name Chris. Your conspiracy theory about me cracks me up so thank ypu for continuing. Lol
Hell yeah Mr. Jones. I have never met you but as a straight WHITE male I’ll stand with you, beside you and behind you against this stupid a$$ woke culture. Please post where I can send you a donation for a legal fund. Please sue their butts off.
https://givesendgo.com/DustinJones?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=DustinJones
If Greensboro isn’t the location of HELL then where can IT be. Probably the person who fired him HATES his mother! We should accept all persons and be thankful and love the man and woman who helped us to come to earth. And WE all have the right to be PROUD for our mothers and fathers for without how would we be on earth. The person who fired the man should be fired and run out of town. Greensboro has become a sick city. And remember that Greenboro HATES police and the citizens of this city!!!
Crazy liberals will you ever learn. I smell another lawsuit. #straightpride
I hope there is 1 huge payout for Jones. That is the only way to get people attention about this kind of reverse discrimination
It just gets worse and worse with the leadership of this city!!!!!!
Greensboro might declare June to be Pervert Pride Month… but I don’t care. It’s just more trite virtue signalling. There is nothing to be proud about in penetrating another man’s anus with your penis. Also there’s nothing to be ashamed of if that’s your thing. Consenting adults can do whatever they want with their bodies (including suicide). That, however heinous, is between themselves and their God, not between them and their government. Government is not God.
Sexuality is a diverse and particularly individual thing. I’m a libertarian, so I don’t care what consenting adults do in the privacy of their own bedrooms, but they have to leave the kids alone.
And firing this guy because he publicly expressed his joy in the passion and ecstasy of normal sexuality is disgusting.
Those who fired him are creeps, and sheep.
THEY are who should be fired, summarily.
Left brained idiots!! I’ll be glad to pass out copies of the US Constitution if it might help. Drink a Bud Lite while you read it, they need your business!
Haven’t missed a day drinking Bud Light since this crap started, don’t intend to also don’t give a damn what anybody says. Just color me straight, WHITE and proud of it
His termination is a direct violation of his 1st Amendments rights. Just because he works for a government entity, he doesn’t lose his free speech rights. In fact, the purpose of the 1st is to protect such speech.
The person who made the decision to fire him should be the one terminated, period.
Hmmm. I smell a lawsuit. This City Manager is likely responsible for this. Isn’t he supposed to be working on revising his budget.
I can only hope he sues the hell out of Greensboro. You voted this trash into office and I hope you are pleased.
The sad part of this is the money if allowed will come from the taxpayers. Just shows again how badly this city is run.
John, I couldn’t agree with you more. It is a ridiculous policy. At a time when trained professionals are at a premium why would the city let go of such a professional over a personal post. Sounds like a clear violation of his First Amendment rights. Hopefully the city leaders will pull their heads out of the sand and make it right or prepare for an ugly fight (certainly something the city does not need).
Will be interesting to see the outcome. He was not on duty, and apparently didn’t reflect negatively on his employer or the city. My guess is he will be brought back with a hefty penalty. Where is the firefighters association on this? He was communicating with others on social media, so is that banned now?
Fair critique. Democrats do love to fright for equal rights of ALL people. Even the minority groups. Republicans claim they are fighting woke. They are really fighting against equal rights. Kinda their jam.
This is what the Democrat party does – demonize anyone who is not on board with them.
Our citizens elected these clowns, so whose fault is it? It is a civic duty to vote – if anyone knows that.
Wow look at all these idiotic, homophobic, knuckle dragging cretan morons whining about gay people like the mentally inferior, genetically defective, lowlifes that they actually are.
I haven’t seen this many inbred hillbilly bigoted responses, since they canceled Hee Haw. It just shows you that the right wing mentality is the lowest common denominator, I see many people here whose family trees do not branch at all but just keep repeating the same genetic loop.
If you want, poorly written, uneducated dog whistling, leave it to John Hammer to fart out something and let his voice recognition feature pick it up.
John- who is the person or person(s) responsible for firing Mr.Jones? Please name them for all the city to see.
1st amendment does not apply to city employees?
Shame on our Mayor and city council if they do not reinstate Mr. Jones with back pay and interest.
I would bet every penny I have it lands right on Jamiah Waterman. That man is a disease to everything he touches.
I’m only here for the sexist racist homophobic rants. You people are so fragile and I’m enjoying your demise.
No, YOU people are so fragile that you can’t stand someone else expressing pride in their sexuality when it’s different to yours.
So who are the real bigots?
Republicans have enjoyed making anti-woke topics like LGBTQ rights a top political topic lately so reap what you sow.
The other point of view from Hammer’s take on it (which uses misdirection to make his point) is that the captian was making an Anti-LGBTQ statement with his meme….ie that thr only righteous marriage is Heterosexual marriage. I agree that was the obvious intention of his sharing that mean. Just like those that say All Live Matter in face of Black Lives Matter. Did it warrant the immediate firing of the captain? I would agree that was an overly aggressive response, but the Republicans choose to make anti woke a top political issue with over the top renewal of legal restrictions (book bannings etc…). So touche to those that rant anti LGBTQ bs in a very Liberal city.
So no Hammer. Feel free to mention you are hetero to anyone you like…..just don’t do it in a context that is easily viewed as anti-LGBTQ bigoted views…Ike this captain did…..
Democrats have enjoyed creating woke topics like LGBTQ rights a top political issue just to stir up the pot on those who do not believe it’s an issue. It’s like a child who wants candy and whines and cries if they don’t get it. The Dems will keep on doing this to keep their mantra alive.
I get angry from time to time when I read about this city council’s shenanigans but this absolutely ridiculous garbage is enough to really cause me to blow my gasket. If I were king I would clean out that city hall in about 15 minutes or less. These clowns would be sent packing if I had the power and they would be run out of Greensboro. I have had it up to my eyeballs with these liberal loons. NOW, do you really want to know how I feel? I hope this fire captain gets his job back along with a whole lot of money.
Greensboro must be the discrimination capital of the world! Is it anyone’s business who we sleep with in the privacy of our own home? But Greensboro supports the eviction of gay individuals from their homes. It’s true. We need to simply leave people alone instead of interfering with their personal writings, living arrangements, and so forth. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell should be relabeled “MYOB”.
I have no problem with MYOB as long as it is a two way street. My baby brother was gay but I was the last one in the family to find out and frankly it didn’t change my feelings for him. He didn’t round screaming ‘I’m gay, I deserve equal treatment!’. He knew my attitude towards homosexuality but my love for him overrode that.
I agree, leave people to do what they want, as long as it’s legal. I still get tot choose who I interact with. But run up and scream in my face that you’re different and deserve to be treated as such and that I HAVE to accept it. THAT’S the problem.
Litterly no one has ever run up to you and screamed about being gay. No one.
Really? So what you’re saying is you are stalking me on a regular basis. That is scary but at the same time it’s nice to know I have a permanent place of residence in your head…as disgusting as it is.
They don’t need to “run up to you and screamed about being gay.” The news media is doing that for them.
And of course you know he isn’t being literal. So dumb.
We all know this isn’t the first case of reverse racism, reverse sexism, reverse pride lawsuit faced by City officials. When they/them pronouns are listed in professional emails within the City, this nonsense has gone too far. Thank you Dustin for taking a stand. It seems the City assumed a huge risk by denying your appeal. An incredible team of support is behind you. “Let’s Roll.” Get up, stand up
Karl Childers said it best, “Not funny haha, funny queer.” Sounds like a good case for a bad round of the red flu to me. The whole fire department should take a stand & protest. The morally bankrupt City Manager can go puff peter along with the woke council. They only get away with what We The People allow them to. If you just lay there and take it, that’s basically approving of their BS. Demand common sense and morals.
Good morning and thank you for all these delicious, butt hurt hillbilly tears to go with my coffee!
How would you like a big ole hillbilly boot up your arse
Would you think it equally funny if you were fired for being proud of your homosexuality?
This is obviously discrimination. It seems like he has been discriminated against for being straight. I think this is the opposite of what the lgbtq community is trying to accomplish with acceptance. Everyone should be accepted no matter what the preference and yes you should be able to talk about it. That is what makes the acceptance work.
Well I hope he sues them and he wins a big reward as he should. However, remember if the City pays a big, fat reward, you city taxpayers will foot the bill. That’s why those left-wing lunatics in city government don’t care. Not coming out of their pockets. In fact they’ll get richer from their lunatic voters. Wake up people, you are the ones who get the pain, not them.
Make no mistake about who contributed to the decision of firing Dustin Jones, City Attorney Chuck Watts. The city promotes minority causes recognizing minorities with specific holidays, minority hires and other preferential treatment while showing contempt for the population as a whole. The city makes known their preferences by promoting causes that have no direct benefit to the population as a whole, while showing direct contempt for an employee expressing his own personal opinions on his own Facebook page. There could be more to the story but there is no denying the rotten progressiveness of the GCC and the voters who voted for them.
You should see all the special interest groups the city has formed for employees to join. Not a one is designed for the majority of the city or its employees. Make a suggestion that they create one of those and you’ll be fired and labeled a bigot.
Bigots should be fired
May the hierarchy be cremated and their ashes flushed their into the sewer, that’s where they belong.
Dustin has you all fooled and is making you look like the fools you are. He’s been in trouble plenty of times, and this was the final straw.
You must not be too smart if you think this is the sole reason this guy got fired! This guy has a rap sheet longer than eminems rap songs. Finally caught up to him. And other co-workers are only surprised it took this long. Yall are barking up the wrong tree with incomplete information. So sad
Do you work in HR? Are you after a promotion? What is your motive? If you know so much, then say it, do not hide behind an accusation without backup. Have you been asked to help diffuse the situation? The case in point is whether Dustin was denied his right to free speech. Maybe whatever you are referring to, Deserved, is part and partial to the city’s policy of squashing anything that does not agree with their progressive bent. No government will survive with progressive leadership.
I am so sick of people saying ” I am entitled just because”. Work for it, prove you are worthy, and get it. Not because you are whatever you think entitles you.
I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or scream. you’re a bunch of ignorant fools. he’s a bad dude. you don’t know everything. the straight pride meme ✨is✨ offensive. look it up and learn something.
I would love to know who thought it was the right thing to do, fire a Greensboro Fireman that has saved multiple lives! He had every right to post on his Facebook when the City celebrates Gay Pride that kinda puts more on the table for everyone. But again I stand behind our first responders as some of the very best around. God Bless you all.
Read the appeal letter from the city manager.
The guy is a jerk who has no place in a leadership role in the fire department.
https://www.reddit.com/r/gso/comments/13yc4pb/dustin_jones_victim_or_repeat_offender/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1
Dustin Jones is such a great human. /s
This article is filled with inaccuracies and false reporting.
First, to confuse homophobia and transphobia as some form of “straight pride” or “wokeness”really shows a lot of you for what you are – bigots or racist. (See comments by “TermLimits” or “Amen”). If any of you can define what “woke” means, then please….go right ahead!
Second, the chief was given months of warnings, requests to review the anti-discrimination policy for our public employees, and he still refused. He was not randomly fired “on the spot.”
Finally, if the people reading this article truly believe this without going to see the official city statement on the firing, which wasn’t even offered to viewers as a modicum baseline of journalistic integrity, then they should either be doing their own research, and be uncomfortable falling for such foolish antics in a city known for being the second wave of the civil rights movement.
If you have issues with that….the you probably aren’t nearly the “nice person” you think you are.
Well said. It was disappointing to see Hammer drop his integrity to write an article to spin up protectionist propaganda for an obvious bigot of the LGBTQ community.
Hey John, how about printing the city manager’s letter denying Jones’ appeal. Or is that news not fit to print because it doesn’t support your views. Your article makes it sound like Jones posted one meme and was “fired on the spot.” Your article is misleading. Print the city manager’s letter.
Of course you did NOT print the city manager’s letter denying Jone’s appeal. Instead you paraphrased it for your readers. Do you really need to chew up and digest the facts before you feed it to the folks in your nest?
i used to read your reports about city council meetings, and though it was always with a grain of salt, i thought by and large you had something to offer to your readers. i no longer believe that.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), please identify the inaccuracies and false reporting in the article. If Captain Jones had prior warnings, that does not preclude him being “fired on the spot.” Please explain how posting a meme is discrimination. The meme was not prejudicial treatment of anyone. You and others just did not like having something published, something that you did not sanction, and that you do not agree with. In this case a meme showing a normal married relationship between one man and one women. Normal meaning conforming to a standard. A man pretending to be a female is not normal. If you doubt this, ask any Muslim, Asian, Indian and others if it is normal. The city simply did not want Captain Jones or any White employee to post anything that might offend the chosen ones. The city of Greensboro is so bent that only a housecleaning of current leadership and replacement with real leaders can save Greensboro from itself.
It is people of your bent who want to silence anyone you do not agree with. You cannot effectively debate issues, therefore, you try to silence people you do not like or people who do not share your views.