In the "Manly Jobs" thread I counted nine firefighters, retired firefighters or former firefighters. Are any of the other firefighters suprised at that?
While I always wanted to be a firefighter and my career selection had nothing to do with with my crossdressing I do believe that my "gender issues" had an effect on my attitude. When I got started in the fire service at 18 I was trying to put the years of dressing in mom's clothes behind me and "man" up. I wanted it to be a manly job and wasn't very tolerant of women entering the fire service.
After a few years of denying I was a crossdresser it started coming back and not long after I got married it hit me really hard. I was also maturing and meeting some women firefighters I had a great deal of respect for. By the time the internet got here and I could really "research" my issues I was fully supporting women on the job.
I have now come far enough that my only thought about women firefighters is jealousy that they get to wear skirts and heels with their dress uniforms if the want.