I have never posted in this forum. I am not gay.

[louis-t]

I read this in the Detroit Free Press this morning and I. Was. Floored. No sexual orientation/discrimination story has ever affected me this way. I cannot express how horrible this is. Speechless.

http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/leonard-pitts/story/903192.html

[rurallib]

1. when their hate is applied to real humans it really hits home.

I think Leonard Pitts is about the best damn columnist in the country.
Just to add to this tale, what if they were your parents or children who were being discriminated against like this? America has surely gotten much more ugly since Jan. 20, 1981.

[BattyDem]

2. I remember reading about this when it happened.

I was appalled! How could people who care for humanity every single day behave in such a heartless, inhumane way? :cry:

At the very least, there must be a federal law that protects gay families in situations like this. Of course, "marriage" would be the solution, but I don't expect Washington to grant those rights anytime soon. :-(

This goes beyond mere discrimination, it's just plain cruel! :grr:

[Mika]

3. I read the Pitts column in my Sunday paper. Then read it again.

We are in the F-ing stone ages in Floriduh. Actually, almost the entire USA is. :(

Cuba is miles ahead of us. There are no such restrictions on gay couple visitation there - fwiw, Cuba is progressive enough to cover gender reassignment surgery under their national health care system. Gay marriage is on the Cuban National Assembly's docket and will pass this year (as a formality, because gay marriage has been approved and are recognized by almost every provincial assembly in Cuba).

[One_Life_To_Give]

4. Press is good, shine some light on this

Thanks for posting this. Shining light on this reprehensible behavior is the best way to combat it.

What gets me is the vindictive attitude of the perpetrator(s).

[bluedawg12]

5. Thank you for your support. It is a horrific story. "Above all do no harm."

Did these "healers" forget their creed?

We had a good discussion about this topic here last week, if you look through the thread you will find some interesting links about the family, the law suit and great commments.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=119230&mesg_id=119230

This is a story worth remembering, these two women adopted, together, three "special needs kids," they foster parented 20 kids, they were in Scouts, PTA and taught first holy communion class.

This young mother died before she could ever see her kids and her partner, one last time. Oh...and the surviving partner, now left widowed with three kids, well, she has MS.

I am glad you felt strongly and I am gald you posted this.

Thank you.

Keep this story alive.

[louis-t]

7. I had not even heard of this story.

I do not pay much attention to GLBT forum or causes. I guess I've always tried to narrow the focus of my battles. Empathy, but no real interest. The sheer cruelty of this policy has emotionally drained me. People that created this policy actually believe they are acting in a Christ-like manner.

[bluedawg12]

9. I understand. I think we all have our "Aha!" moments, for many it was Prop8

because that went beyond the customary: are you for or against same sex marriage.

That voters initiative showed the tyranny of the majority and also it was hideous because it actually took away legal rights. Imagine. Civil rights being taken away, in America, once granted.

Now this story strikes even deeper into the hearts of fair minded people who can empathize and place themselves in the shoes of the dying woman, her partner and her kids. Two good and kind women that took their three adopted kids to Florida on vacation and were, in turn, treated in a way that is appalling, considering it was at the hands of people entrusted with the care of the sick and injured and dying.

The problem is there was no such policy, according to the hospital and the accrediting bodies that govern hospitals, JCAHO, families and friends of patients are to be accorded respect and dignity.

The staff also, apparently went against the hospital's own internal policies, according to the legal complaint that is on line and which I read.

What this shows is that, as you allude to, the kinds of "social values" the kinds of supposedly "pro-family" values that are trumpeted by some members of some clergy, and some politicians ( of both parties), are in fact, not compassionate, do not treat others as you would wish to be treated and this is why so many in the gay rights movement take such strong acception to even little instances of bigotry in the public arena, because it is toxic and seeps in and corrodes even our most basic institutions, those entrusted by society with the privilege of providing health care.

[louis-t]

11. Then I hope they leave the hospital out of the suit.

In a perfect world, the animals who took it upon themselves to dictate moral policy should be punished. I'll leave it to this forum to come up with a suitable punishment.

[mitchtv]

14. Don't worry, a Floriduh jury

will not convict anyone of hurting Gays . Why yesterday we had several DU'hr denying they were mistreated. Hate crosses party lines.One wonders what DNC Chairman Kaine would say.

[Sub Atomic]

30. +1

What this shows is that, as you allude to, the kinds of "social values" the kinds of supposedly "pro-family" values that are trumpeted by some members of some clergy, and some politicians ( of both parties), are in fact, not compassionate, do not treat others as you would wish to be treated and this is why so many in the gay rights movement take such strong acception to even little instances of bigotry in the public arena, because it is toxic and seeps in and corrodes even our most basic institutions, those entrusted by society with the privilege of providing health care.


:bravo:

[BR_Parkway]

6. Thank you for caring enough to share.

[Rainbowreflect]

8. That story broke my heart.

Why, why, why do people have to be so full of hate and fear?

[bluedawg12]

10. This is a reflection of decades of fear mongering

and crazy right wing lies.

Sometimes it ends up like this tragic story, sometimes the harvest of hate even leads to beatings and murder.

That's why every lie, every smear, every instance of hate speech is taken seriously by oppressed groups.

The gay comunity is just fed up with these stories, we are fighting back and we need strong, informed allies.

Stories like this bring home the depth of hatred that passes as "it's just a difference of opinion."

[truedelphi]

13. This heart here broken too. What appalling behavior!

It reminds me of why, when asked about his views of civilisation, Ghandi replied that he thought it was an idea that would be worth trying sometimes.

[enigmatic]

12. I've been following this

And it makes me sick to my stomach. "Do no harm" my ass. What a horrible, horrible story.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Thanks for posting this, and for your reaction

This story is a terrible truth. I've spent my life focused on these issues, and this story changed everything.
Each and every person who opposes equal rights under the law for all carries a bit of the guilt for this and every story like it. All of them.

[tbyg52]

16. Isn't that horrible? The people who did that should be ashamed of themselves. nt

[NYC_SKP]

17. I really hope the lawsuit is successful. News video of the case here:

What a horrific experience.

A judgment against this hospital will send a strong signal to Florida and other states.

a news video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNsBLJn-NiA

[cboy4]

18. K-R

x(

[Juche]

19. This is not an "increasingly anti-gay nation"

The article states that it is, and that is totally false. Acceptance of gay rights are growing all the time. The fact that all of these states are throwing up laws to oppress gays are not a sign of a growing revulsion, but the death throes of the religious right who realize their ideas won't last much longer and who want to cash in before they lose big time (its like the support of segregation in the late 60s, it was partly driven by a realization that the gig was up and lets do what we can before the public totally steamroll us and our bigotry). The president is the most pro-GLBT president we have ever had. As the older generation dies off and is replaced by a younger generation that trend will accelerate.

I appreciate the article though.

[bluedawg12]

21. "this is an increasingly anti-gay nation, to judge from all the mean-spirited amendments"

That's the full statement and it was qualified opinion.
"For the record, this is an increasingly anti-gay nation, to judge from all the mean-spirited amendments and legislation that have made scapegoats and boogie men of them in recent years.."

I agree that attitudes are changing.

Maybe the better way to say it would have been, "One would think this was an increasingly anti-gay nation, to judge from all the mean-spirited amendments ..."

I also agree with you that this is the last desperate gasp of the rabbidy right, grabbing for straws and straw men as they sink beneath their own mire.

It's a kind of paradox, even as the nation changes and slowly becomes more accepting of gay rights issues, the reichwing steps up it's efforts and lies.

[Vanje]

20. Heres an earlier thread on the same incident

It shows a wide range of responses from DU-ers.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5060763

[bluedawg12]

23. Quite wide and listing

to the right.

[trickyguy]

22. It's OK that you're not gay. At least you still can recognize blatant discrimination.

[bluedawg12]

24. And feel empathy. It restores one's hope

in people. This was a kind and thoughtful OP.

[louis-t]

31. I wasn't apologizing that I'm not gay.

}(

[Chovexani]

25. It really puts it into persepective doesn't it

Your empathy is greatly appreciated, btw. You don't have to be gay to recognize everyone's basic humanity. :hug:

[friedgreentomatoes]

26. what really gets my goat is...

the fact that anti-choice legislature often fails in the reddest of red states, but anti-gay bills get passed even in blue states. :mad:

[bluedawg12]

27. It's easier to moralize about other people's sexuality

like divorce, a sin, yet legal.

[The Brethren]

28. Thank you louis-t for caring and for noticing.

I so wish more straight people would do the same. I think sometimes when more people can put themselves in our shoes and ask themselves how would they feel in the same situations, how would they like to be treated, it can give them a different perspective.

This story is very upsetting and all too familiar. I know if my partner were ever in the hospital for whatever reason, esp. if it were for critical reasons, and I wasn't allowed to see her, speak with her doctors, have any involvement in what was happening with her, etc., I would be livid. I hope, louis-t, that if more people think about articles like this one, that maybe it will change.




The Stimulus Plan ("American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009"): Orig. House version -- http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryBill01-15-09.pdf , House spreadsheet -- http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pV-c6t5fOVmNorqMpHvnCMw ; Senate version -- http://appropriations.senate.gov/News/2009_02_02_The_American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009.pdf ; and Senate compromise -- http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1 , Text and $$$ details of Senate compromise -- http://appropriations.senate.gov/News/2009_02_08_UPDATED_Appropriations_Provisions_of_American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act.pdf?CFID=4043629&CFTOKEN=40573040 . In addition to -- http://readthestimulus.org/amdth1.pdf , along with -- http://www.readthestimulus.org/ . Final version, Feb. 13th, 1500 pgs. worth -- http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/arra_public_review/ , more details on the final version -- http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?category=&type=Project&proj_id=1913&action=Headlines%20By%20TCS , including spending -- http://cbs4denver.com/national/Web.government.accountability.2.937188.html

[Two Americas]

29. thanks louis-t

Thanks for bringing this back to people's attention, and thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

32. Thanks For Posting, louia-t

I read about this a bit back and I. too, am sickened. I feel for Janice and her partener. This crap is one of the reasons that my spouse and I are working on emigrating to Canada, where we were married.

[TEmperorHasNoClothes]

33. thanks and continue to share this with your heterosexual friends and family

LGBT rights aren't just a concept, we're people with individual stories.