Tributes Paid to Pro-Gay Fire Chief Pearson

Tributes have been paid to Kevin Pearson from Avon Fire And Rescue, who has died after a short illness.  The BBC reported that Mr Pearson had been head of the Fire Service for sixteen years.  In 2007, a row erupted after homophobic fire fighters shone lights at gay men engaged in the now perfectly legal past time of cruising.  In the erupting furore, the Bristol Evening Post, which in those days was under different management to today, was accused of stoking homophobia.  Local anti-gay extremists, hiding behind poisoned pen letters, sent hate mail to Mr Pearson threatening his wife and children.  Mr Pearson remained steadfast however, in his commitment to equalities and diversity in the Fire Service.