Brokeback Coal Mountain moment.

[CoolBreeze]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A gay coal miner has sued a Massey Energy Co. subsidiary, alleging that co-workers in several mines have repeatedly harassed him because of his sexual orientation.

In a lawsuit filed earlier this month in Kanawha Circuit Court, Sam Hall maintains that he was subjected to verbal abuse and invective and lewd gestures by his supervisors and other miners, even after he complained to management.

"Mr. Hall is gay and, given his gender preference, has been harassed by both management and fellow miners. Due to management's participation and provocation, most of the pervasive ongoing harassment has been caused or encouraged," the suit states.

The suit, filed by Charleston lawyer Roger Forman, (ACLU) names Massey subsidiary Spartan Mining Co. and No. 2 Gas Mine foreman Randy Thomas as defendants.

Last week, Massey Energy vice president and general counsel Shane Harvey called the conduct alleged by Hall "despicable."

"They are serious allegations, and we take them seriously. We are going to investigate it, and if any of them are true, we are going to take action swiftly to remedy the situation," he said. "However, at this stage, they are just allegations, and we are going into the investigation with an open mind."

Hall first went to work as a "red hat," as underground trainees are called because of the red helmets they are required to wear, at the Winifrede Mine in November 2005, according to the suit.

After Hall went horseback riding with a co-worker, the mine's superintendent, Scott Lansenese, allegedly said that Hall had a "Brokeback Mountain" moment, a reference to the Academy Award-winning 2005 film about the relationship between two gay cowboys.

more....

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201012261 ... uild=cache

[lastone]

Oh, great! The ACLU will take a queer case but not the case that put my son in jail for 25 years in Va. The law he was charged under includes a "presumption of guilt". In other words, you are guilty until proven innocent. Unconstitutional, but the ACLU says "It does not concern enough people". Would not get involved. Assholes!

[jag]

Don't sugar-coat it, lastone...tell us how you really feel!