Seattle to release names of gay and lesbian city workers

[ccharles000]

(Seattle) After a Seattle City Light employee filed for the release of the names of gay and lesbian city workers involved in a city-sponsored club earlier in the month, the city of Seattle reluctantly did the same. The city is claiming the state public-records act requires the names to be released.

Philip Irvin, a self-proclaimed civil rights leader who was thwarted in his attempts to create a city-sponsored group of ex-gay employees, asked earlier this month for the names of employees associated with the department’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning and Friends Club. Members of the club sued to prevent their names from being released claiming it would violate their privacy.

“The city sympathizes with the concerns that plaintiffs have expressed,” Assistant City Attorney Gary T. Smith said in court documents. “Nonetheless, the city believes that the Public Records Act obligates it to disclose the records at issue.”

Read the full Seattle-Post Intelligencer story here.

http://www.365gay.com/uncategorized/seattle-to-release-names-of-gay-and-lesbian-city-workers/

[Atman]

1. I "sympathize" with the concerns the paintiffs have expressed as well. But...

...this was a CITY-SPONSORED club. Which means any city tax payer has the right to know what his tax money is paying for. If Philip Irvin wanted his "club" to remain private, he should have kept it private and not sought city sponsorhip.

Dumbasses come in all shapes, sizes, genders and political affiliations.

.

[Neecy]

3. It isn't Irvin's "club"

He's a right-wing whackjob.

Irvin, who claims he's been barred from attending LGBTQF club meetings because he is heterosexual and opposed to gay rights, has requested that the city release the names of employees belonging to or attending the Seattle Public Utilities-sponsored group.

I think it's chilling that he's demanded (and is getting) a list of GLBT city employees, especially given the recent RW violence.

[ccharles000]

5. I agree

[girl gone mad]

12. The club also includes "friends".

If I was an employee in Seattle, I would join and try to get my name on the list.

[TommyO]

4. Read the story, Irvin is the right-wing nut who is suing to get the names

of members.

[Sebastian Doyle]

6. I think you misunderstood the article

This DUMBASS, Irvin is not gay, nor is he trying to form a club for gay employees. He's demanding the names of the gay employees so he can harrass them with right wing religious horseshit.

Irvin (a white heterosexual Republican) also apparently joined City Light's Black Employees Association, and was trying to join the gay employees group for the same troublemaking reasons.

The guy sounds like a real douchebag.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009347295_citygays17m.html

[Atman]

17. I did misunderstand it, somewhat.

I admit, I didn't understand that he was simply trying to harass people. I was trying to look at it simply as a legal matter, being a city employee using city money. But there certainly should be consideration given to the ultimate use of the information. Thanks for pointing out Irvin's douchebaggery.

.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. If I were an employee of the City of Seattle I would join the club in solidarity.

Even though I'm straight.

[Lisa0825]

9. That was my first thought too. I hope folks there think of that!

P.S. Se, my siggie is appropriate to your post :pals:

[lindisfarne]

7. Why would a city sponsor "clubs" at all - regardless of their purpose? n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. That is the root of the issue.

[lindisfarne]

8. Cordova and co-counsel David Coffman were able to secure a temporary restraining order

blocking the city from releasing the documents, but that order could be nullified at a hearing scheduled next week.

[ccharles000]

10. kick

[donco6]

11. I wouldn't care.

I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of. I know others aren't in as good a position as I am, though.

[ShadowLiberal]

13. And while we're at why don't we do the same thing for other persecuted groups, like atheists!

And while we're at it why don't we say who all had abortions & who's an atheist! Oh and don't forget who's currently or ever worked at an abortion clinic.

They won't suffer from any intimidation or hate crimes from radical fundies like that doctor Tiller and the museum guard at the holocaust museum did. It's just the public's right to know who they are, and where they live, and where they work, and their bosses phone number, and anything else someone determined to intimidate & ruin their lives would love to know!

And while we're at it we should have done the same thing years ago to other groups that once faced lots of discrimination & hate crime violence, and probably still do today!

:sarcasm: (Yes I'm being sarcastic in case you didn't realize it) :sarcasm:

[ccharles000]

14. ...

:thumbsup:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. If its city sponsored and therefore publicly funded, the data is fair game.