second hand harrassment?

[Lynda/WA]

Some librarians in the Twin cities area have sued for second hand harrassment. They say it is harrassment if they see something they find offensive even if it isn't directed at them and they aren't specifically shown anything or spoken to. They say that when a library patron goes on-line at the library and views something they find offensive and they walk by that is second hand harrassment. I'm not exactly clear on how this is possible but the library has been ordered to pay each librarian that filed suit, $75,000 before the case has been settled (it's currently in litigation and unsettled). It sounded as if this was complained about by these librarians before and the administration enacted some new policies. They require all patrons to sign up for computer time as well as have library cards. They also seperated the computer sections. Sort of like seperating the kids books to a different room. They also placed shield dividers between the computers. There was also something about web filters not filtering out everything offensive.
I see some potential problems with this. Note that what is considered offensive is an individual thing. One person may find a pro-abortion website offensive and another may find an anti-abortion website offensive. Also, if a patron is quietly sitting at a table reading a book about safe sex is that harrassment to the workers and other patrons? what if you are sitting on the bus reading a book about safe sex. Is that second hand harrassment and can the bus company be sued? How about in a park? If you see a couple kiss (straight or gay) is that second hand harrassment?