Idaho teacher files suit over gay pride month

NAMPA, Idaho (AP) — A teacher at a federal job training center is claiming religious harassment because he was not allowed to object to government recognition of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

Kenneth Gee, who teaches at the Centennial Job Corps Center, claimed in a lawsuit that superiors denied him the opportunity to object on religious grounds. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he said he views homosexuality as immoral and forbidden by the Bible.

Gee claimed he was advised by superiors in 2000 to celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and was e-mailed then-President Clinton's proclamation on the issue with the comment, "Morality is simply the attitude we adopt toward people we personally dislike."

He notified his superiors of his religious objections to receiving such material. He claimed he was initially rebuffed and within days told his objection violated federal policies and persisting could cost him his job

Gee said he was also refused the opportunity to advise the secretary of interior of his objections.

He claimed the communications encouraging acceptance of homosexuals continued even after President Bush took office and dropped formal recognition of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

Last week, Gee asked a federal judge to order the Bureau of Reclamation to stop sending him e-mail messages asking him to recognize gay pride month.

Gee also asked the court to protect his right to object to government e-mails that he believes promote homosexuality. He also wants any negative materials concerning his objections removed from his file.

Officials from Job Corps and the Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees the program, declined comment on Gee's lawsuit because they had not seen it.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Division of the U.S. Department of the Interior found no merit in Gee's claim following an administrative investigation last summer.

Gee continues to teach at the Nampa center.