First Transgender Woman in New York Fire Department

Details: Published on Monday, 03 October 2011; Written by phinea

One of New York’s Bravest is breaking barriers -- becoming the first transgender firefighter in the city’s history.According to the New York Post, the male-to-female firefighter has been openly welcomed by the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), but does not wish her identity to made public.

The woman is a third-generation firefighter. Her family has a long history of fire fighting, and her father, a current FDNYofficer, responded to the Twin Towers on 9/11.

The FDNY has been criticised in the past for its lack of diversity. White males make up about 91 percent of the approximately 11,000-work force.

The FDNY has an LGBT organization and some members are openly gay. But the woman is the first known transgender woman in the fire fighting ranks.

“Especially among those who know the [family], this won’t amount to a hill of beans to them,” a veteran member said. “There’s a lot of respect for the family.’