In a recent podcast, conservative commentator Megyn Kelly voiced her frustration with the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), accusing its leadership of prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) over the department's primary mission of public safety.
Kelly's comments came in the wake of the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles, with the commentator suggesting that the department's focus on DEI may have hindered its response to the crisis.
According to The New York Post, Kelly's criticism was particularly directed at the three women in the LAFD's 14-person leadership team. She singled out Training and Support Bureau Commander Jaime Brown, Deputy Chief in Equity and Human Resources Bureau Kristine Larson, and Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, the department's first LGBTQ fire chief. Kelly stated, These three women who are all at the top there I mean honestly, Im not trying to be mean, but theyre obese. These are overweight, out-of-shape women.
Kelly's comments reflect a broader conservative critique of the LAFD's DEI program, which some argue has detracted from the department's readiness to tackle large-scale emergencies like the recent wildfires. Critics have pointed to the city's decision to cut the LAFD's budget by $17.6 million last year as a contributing factor to the department's perceived lack of preparedness.
Kelly went on to express her belief that the LAFD's focus on diversity could be better served by recruiting transgender women. If theyre so intent on getting women into the fire department, why cant we get the so-called trans women? Kelly asked. Lets get the fake women who want to invade our sports and redirect them to the fire department. That would be a great place for you to break barriers as a quote woman in the firefighting realm where you still have all of your male advantage.
The commentator's remarks have sparked outrage among some Los Angeles residents, who have called for the resignation of LA Mayor Karen Bass in response to the department's handling of the wildfires. The city's leadership has been criticized for slashing the LAFD's budget, a decision that Fire Chief Crowley warned in a December memo would severely limit the department's ability to prepare for and respond to large-scale emergencies.
Kelly's comments, while controversial, underscore a growing concern among some conservatives about the perceived prioritization of DEI initiatives over traditional public safety measures. As Los Angeles continues to grapple with the aftermath of the wildfires, the debate over the role of diversity in public safety departments is likely to intensify.
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