Seattle man attempts to have names of LGBT employees released

[WillParkinson]

Seattle man attempts to have names of LGBT employees released

(Seattle) A Seattle City Light employee has filed a request to have the names and membership lists of a gay and lesbian employee organization released.

Philip Irving, who is affiliated with a conservative Christian organization, wished to create a group for employees who used to be homosexual but now identify as heterosexual, but says he faced opposition from the city. Irving now wants the city to release the names of organizers of city employee groups, specifically those of a Seattle Public Utilities “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Friends” group.

After being notified that their names will be released, an unspecified number of employees have sued the city, saying that the state public-records law does not allow for their names to be released.

“The information that we’re talking about is personal information,” said the plaintiffs’ attorney Cecilia Cordova, who is representing the employees with noted gay-rights attorney David Coffman. “The risk is privacy, and that’s something that is taken very seriously by the court system.”

Read the full Seattle Post-Intelligencer story here: http://www2.seattlepi.com/articles/407090.html

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I fail to understand why Irving needs those names to create his own stupid group.

[Kerrytravelers]

2. And why would he want these people's names released?

With the recent wave of right-wing terrorism, I think it isn't a stretch to imagine. These people will be harassed, ostracized... and worse.

[CoffeeCat]

3. I am a heterosexual woman from the suburbs...

...and I want to join this group.

Everyone should rally around this group---and join--regardless of your sexual orientation--to show
solidarity for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

What can this jerk do to a few million people?

[MADem]

4. I think the organization ought to extend full membership benefits to Philip Irving.

Send him his membership card, his pin, and everything! Waive his dues, too! If there's a Conservative Christian Employee Group, extend full membership to them, too! Then release the list!

[ThomCat]

5. I bet this is intended as retaliation for the public release of the names

of everyone who supported Prop. 8. The fundies have been outraged over that.

I bet they're trying to get lists of people to harass for being LGBT or supporting LGBT rights.

It will be interesting to see how this gets slapped down.

[sgsmith]

7. Does the city have other employee groups?

If so, include them in the disclosure. Make sure that every name of every minority group gets publicized. And site back and watch those people howl when their personal information is released.

Hell, if there's a Christian group, make sure that they're the first group publicized. And find out if the city provides ANY public resources for that group and CUT THEM OFF!

[liberalmuse]

6. I'd fire his ass.

He's there to work, not delve into people's personal lives. I would not want someone like this working for me. He's a trouble maker and needs to leave his Christian shit at home.

I say this after having worked with people of his ilk, spouting scripture at work and recruiting people for prayer groups during breaks. It really makes one who does not believe in this way very uncomfortable. Christians ARE NOT persecuted in this country. They are the ones making others uncomfortable. I once worked with a guy who would take a megaphone after work and screech his beliefs. He was a total lazy piece of shit at work, and would not do even the smallest thing to help anyone out when they needed it with work stuff. Bah, I guess I have issues with religious nuts and their agendas.

[paulsby]

12. you can't

i'm a public employee in WA state.

he made a public disclosure request. a frivolous one that will be thrown out, but that's what he did. if his PUBLIC agency tried to fire him for this, they would SURELY lose. i say that as somebody reasonably familiar with WA worker's rights laws.

what they should do is let him form his group. just like other employee groups are formed. his group is stupid, but it's not the employer's discretion to decide which employee groups are "good" and which are "bad"

the best remedy is to let him do his thing, and then when he gets few or no responses, he'll just look like a horse's ass.

[joeybee12]

8. Why would the city agree to relaes the names in the first place?

Does their lawyer know anything about confidentiality laws and about who is and isn't considered a public figure. Geesh!

[dsc]

9. because public employees' records are public records

We operate under different rules on things like this. My name, address, and salary were printed by a local tv station last year.

[joeybee12]

10. Then why would there be a public record of this group?

I mean, the tv station could not print your ssn or other things that might cause you harm...this clearly is this guy's intent....to cause harm to members of this group.

[dsc]

11. my guess is that it is an offically sanctioned group

permitting the use of public employee emails and other communication systems for its promotion. My work email account is a public record and thus I limit it to school related activities and never use it for personal stuff.

[paulsby]

13. SOME aspects of public emplotyee records

are public disclosure.

i am a LEO in WA.

there is a guy who posts police officer's names, dates of birth, and home addresses.

this has been upheld as entirely constitutional, fwiw.

he was enjoined from publishing our SS#'s, which are NOT public record.

it may be the case that membership in a WORK RELATED group is public record. not quite sure about that.

the operative lesson here is keep your WORK life seperate from your social life.