A Scots firefighter is urging people from the LGBT+ community to join the fire service after once worrying his sexuality would be a barrier.
Craig Carter, from Greenock, took on a full-time role at Springburn Fire Station in Glasgow in July 2020.
The 26-year-old, who identifies as gay, said he initially feared that he would be joining a macho environment at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) - where less than one per cent of the workforce identifies as LGBT+.
But now the former NHS worker wants other aspiring firefighters from the LGBT+ community feel confident in joining the service after finding his colleagues are 'welcoming and supportive'.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Craig said: "I was wary of joining and thought I wasn't going to be accepted.
"But it turned out to be totally different. I think it's partly because a lot people are becoming more educated and accepting of different identities."
Craig says he had initially joined the fire service as a retained worker to help his own community before realising he wanted it to become his career.
He says his colleagues have now become like a second family and he 'can speak to them about anything'.
Craig is speaking out as the service marks LGBT History Month – an annual event to celebrate LGBT culture around the world and learn from the history of the community.
Craig - who believes slow progress is being made for LGBT+ communities in Scotland - hopes to help change perceptions by speaking out about his own experience and insists that anyone who can handle the mental and physical challenges of the job can become a firefighter.
He continued: "Everyone in the fire service was welcoming and supportive. You are treated equally, you go in there and do a job. It’s not about trying to fit in, you don’t need to fit in, everyone fits in. Everyone is the same, as long as you can do work.
"You need to be mentally and physically fit to be a firefighter. The training is intense, but I enjoy it. If anyone is interested in working with the SFRS then they will be supported."
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer David Farries is the SFRS’ Senior LGBT Champion.
He said: “LGBT History Month is all about learning from the past to make things better tomorrow and lived experiences such as Craig’s are central to that.
"We're proud to support LGBT History month and we are absolutely committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equal workforce that really reflects the communities we protect.”
