Gay city-worker group's minutes must be released, judge rules

The city of Seattle must release a set of meeting minutes from a city-sponsored affinity group for lesbians, gays and their friends but not the names of attendees until it can be determined whether they attended on public time or received other public benefits — a process that could take some time.

King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick made the ruling Thursday in response to a request from Philip Irvin, a Seattle City Light employee who has frequently challenged the city on issues involving public access and minorities.

Irvin, who is not gay, has crashed gay-rights events at City Hall and sued when he felt he was being excluded from such meetings.

Irvin requested the names of anyone who has attended or received e-mails to attend meetings at Seattle Public Utilities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Transsexual (LGBT), Questioning Employees and Friends Group.

Several members of the LGBT group moved to block release of the names, saying it's an invasion of privacy and that the names are not of legitimate public concern. Lawyers for the Seattle City Attorney's Office argued that the names are of public interest and that state law requires their release.

In his ruling Thursday, Judge Erlick said releasing names could amount to public disclosure of the sexual orientation of the involved parties and thus could be an invasion of privacy. And such disclosure could have a chilling effect on those who'd like to join such affinity groups.

But he also said taxpayers have a right to know how their dollars were used and if any individuals benefited. Erlick said such public benefits could include attending meetings during work hours. The minutes will be released Monday.

Another hearing will be held to determine which individuals actually received such benefits.

Gary Smith, attorney for the city of Seattle, said the city may not be able to determine that.

Cecilia Cordova, attorney for those who wanted to block release of the names, said she didn't think any of them did, and that the meeting occurred during employees' lunch break.

While Cordova said Thursday she was happy with the judge's ruling, Tanya Treat, co-chairwoman of the LGBT group, expressed disappointment.

Treat, a civil engineer with SPU, said most of those in her group — only half of whom are gay or lesbian — aren't opposed to the release of their names.

Besides, "I don't know how we'll determine who bills their time," she said. "It's going to be ridiculous."

The LGBT group is one of about a dozen such affinity groups that use city meeting rooms and receive public funds.

Irvin, a 58-year-old power analyst for Seattle City Light who said he believed there was a "secret gay organization" that could be engaging in covert actions against him, did like the judge's ruling.

The group is city-funded and city-supported, and "we can't find out who they are," he said.

Treat took issue with that characterization, saying the meetings are open and their locations listed on an internal Web site for all city employees.

Irvin has also said he considers it hypocritical for gay city employees to try to block the release of their names at the same time a local gay group has said it would include on a searchable Web site the names and addresses of those who sign Referendum 71.

The referendum would repeal a gay-rights measure the Legislature passed this spring.

Seattle Times staff reporter Lornet Turnbull contributed to this report.