As wildfires rage, a left-wing magazine hails Los Angeles' first LGBTQ+ fire chief Christine Crowley as proof that “lesbians can make it”, sparking a backlash over the city's priorities during historic disasters.
As the Palisades fire engulfed Los Angeles' wealthy Pacific Coast neighborhood, reducing more than 1,000 homes to rubble, the left-leaning PRIDE magazine published a celebratory article. depiction Fire Chief Christine Crowley was furious.
The article, published Wednesday, praised Crowley's historic role as the city's first openly LGBTQ+ fire chief and declared her leadership an example of “lesbians making it.”
The piece cites Crowley's extensive experience in the fire department to emphasize the stereotype of lesbians being prepared for emergencies.
The article connects Crowley's personal identity to her professional success, stating:
The stereotype that lesbians are always prepared for emergencies — we all know the queer woman who never leaves the house without a Leatherman multi-tool and a carabiner — is amplified by the first LGBTQ+ public in Los Angeles. That's true for Fire Chief Kristin Crowley. Stop the Palisades fire.
It continues to highlight her decades-long career, culminating in her 2022 appointment.
But critics argue that such praise in the midst of a devastating firestorm is ill-timed and prioritizes identity politics over pressing issues, and that the publication Some have accused them of politicizing the disaster to advance a narrative.
The magazine has also been criticized for covering up operational concerns. Reports of depleted fire hydrants and resource shortages in affected areas have only heightened skepticism about whether city leadership is effectively addressing the crisis.
“Obviously this wildfire is homophobic,” Virginia Republican Nick Freitas quipped.
“This can't be real. Is it?” asked author Juanita Broadrick.
“No, this can't be real. It can't be true,” wrote popular blogger Bonchie.
“You can’t make this up,” conservative influencer Logan O’Handley wrote.
Wednesday, actor James Woods ridiculed Crowley's bio on the Los Angeles Fire Department's website highlights her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, putting fire service priorities on the back burner in favor of social messaging. It suggests that.
“Refilling the reservoir would have been a welcome priority, but I think she went too far in promoting diversity,” he wrote.
The issue comes as the left's identity-centered discourse increasingly sparks debate over its priorities and effectiveness in times of crisis.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @Joshua Klein.
