By MIKE SULLIVAN
Published: Today
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3225550/Fire-chief-Paul-back-from-hols-as-Jessica.html (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3225550/Fire-chief-Paul-back-from-hols-as-Jessica.html)
A FIRE station chief amazed colleagues by changing sex while on holiday.
Paul Canning, 45, returned from a five-week break wearing make-up and a wig, then said: "Call me Jessica from now on."
Staff were summoned to a meeting by the London Fire Brigade's human resources department and told about the sex swap. They were warned they could be disciplined if they did not refer to their boss in Forest Hill, South London, as "she".
They were also offered a transgender awareness course. Friends said Jessica wanted to undergo full sex-change surgery but must live as a woman for 18 months first. One fireman said: "If he is happier, then we all support that."
QuoteThey were warned they could be disciplined if they did not refer to their boss in Forest Hill, South London, as "she"
Quote"If he is happier ......"
Hmm ::)
I noticed that as well. But there are two important points here.
1. This is the Sun. Highbrow for them is wearing a tie. Research is whatever can be picked up in the local pub.
2. The fire brigade is managed on military type dicipline. The senior officers are given the same respect as senior officer in any military outfit simply because those under them must obey commands instantly.
It seems highly unlikely that any such directive has been issued. What is more likely, is that some reporter met with a fireman in a pub and asked what would happen if they called the comander, sir or referred to then as he.
The answer is, they would get the same response as they would if they used an inappropriate adress to any other senior officer.
We can imagine if someone in the US miliraty adressed the President as madam.