December 17, 2001

When researching the law firm that had sent him the letter, Atty. J. Edward Pawlick discovered that the firm lists the number of gay employees it has. This appeared to him to be a terrible violation of the privacy of its employees. 

“It’s very troubling to learn that you categorize your employees at Hill & Barlow by their sexual activity,” Pawlick wrote to the firm. 

“Doesn’t that violation of their privacy concern you? How can you possibly ask all of your employees about their sex life? How can you not be concerned about such an invasion of their personal life? 

“However, it’s comforting to learn that 8% of your associates are openly gay but disturbing that only 2% of the partners are. You should do better on getting more gay partners or the Massachusetts Discrimination Commission will be questioning you. You are not meeting your quota in that regard. But you know that. You also know that you are probably the firm with the highest percentage and the highest number of gay lawyers in Boston. That should help if any complaints are ever filed against you.” 

Pawlick also made Hill & Barlow aware of an affront to women in the December 2000 issue. 

“The issue of Boston about which we are talking has a pretty girl on the cover sucking her finger in anticipation of the gifts that were recommended to the readers,” he wrote. “What terrible disrespect to imply that all women are anxious to provide sex for men who bring them gifts. This cover even goes beyond the genre of Playboy; it is more that of Hustler magazine.”  

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