in case you thought discrimination against gay people was not a problem

[joeyconnick]

I get the impression from a lot of people, particularly those from big cities (which, granted, is the type of area I'm from) that they think homophobia is not that big an issue anymore. Maybe this is more of a Canadian thing, given that we have gay marriage. In fact one of the arguments against gay marriage made by gay people is that it might create a certain sense of complacency with respect to people thinking they had no further rights battles to wage, but I digress.

So guess what news item I just saw?

http://365gay.com/Newscon08/06/062408fam.htm

Can you even imagine?! My mum died of cancer nearly two years ago and if anyone had attempted to bar me from her side, I may very well have walked in with a machine gun and mowed them down.

So, before everyone pats everyone else on the back, let's remember there are lots of places, even in the supposedly advanced, supposedly democratic "Western" world, where horrible discrimination exists.

[LOVEjames]

There is nothing more horrendous than that, and I really think that it's the worst thing that the LGBT community faces. To not see your partner, when they're just as, if not more, committed than most straight couples who have a dying partner, is just incredibly atrocious.

And I'm quite aware that homophobia still exists, as I'm sure most are. But it seems like we just try to ignore it, and we think that we've made a lot of advances, which we have, and just focus on the good. I'm volunteering at the GLSEN for a year, and I plan on helping this type of stuff where it starts, as kids.

Thanks for posting this, Joey. People really need to be more aware of this type of stuff.

[Steve]

what does the article thing say it is blocked over here by the government

[LOVEjames]

Hospital Sued After Dying Lesbian's Partner Denied Access To Her
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: June 24, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET

(Miami, Florida) A lawsuit will be filed in Miami Wednesday against a hospital that refused to allow the partner of a dying lesbian to see because they were not considered family.

The suit will be filed by Lambda Legal which is representing Janice Langbehn.

Langbehn and Lisa Pond had planned to take their three children on a family cruise. The Olympia, Washington couple had been together 18 years and with their children were looking forward to the holiday.

But just as they were about to depart on the cruise from Miami, Florida. Pond, a healthy 39-year-old, suddenly collapsed. She was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami with Langbehn and the children following close behind.

Once Langbehn and the children arrived at the hospital the hospital refused to accept information from her about Ponds’s medical history.

Langbehn says she was informed that she was in an antigay city and state, and she could expect to receive no information or acknowledgment as family.

A doctor finally spoke with Janice telling her that there was no chance of recovery.

Other than one five minute visit, which was orchestrated by a Catholic priest at Langbehn’s request to perform last rites, and despite the doctor’s acknowledgement that no medical reason existed to prevent visitation, neither she nor her children were allowed to see Pond until nearly eight hours after their arrival.

Soon after Pond'’s death, Langbehn tried to get her death certificate in order to get life insurance and Social Security benefits for their children. She was denied both by the State of Florida and the Dade County Medical Examiner.

In February, Lambda Legal sent a letter to Jackson Memorial Hospital and announced its intent to file a lawsuit on behalf of Pond's family.

"After receiving no response from the hospital despite providing them sufficient opportunity to avoid litigation, Janice and her family are now able to seek justice in a court of law," said Lambda spokesperson Tika Milan.

©365Gay.com 2008

[joeyconnick]

Wow... glad I'm not in Dubai!

Okay... already posted by someone. *sigh*

[Austin]

why is the article blocked? o_o

and also, thats horrible. I can't believ they would do that =X!

[Beebo]

I for one, as a canadian, can say that homophobia is rampant at my end of the country. My parents have me scared for my life to be gay, and I couldn't imagine the amount of pressure people would slap down on my if I got a boyfriend. I think they probably stopped her because they have that rule 'family only'. And since she was just her girlfriend, it doesn't count.

I dissagree with that rule, of course, and so do most of you I am sure. But Hospitals do it for safety reasons mostly, the same thing happens to straight people.

They weren't married where they? Because that would be obvious discrimination.

[Steve]

any thing that has any type of sexual thing in it or that talks about gays is blocked ...

ive got no idea why EC isnt blocked

[cc6log]

Is there a reasonable case here? How were the kids connected to her legally? Too many details left out of this article for me...

[joeyconnick]

Originally Posted by Beebo

I for one, as a canadian, can say that homophobia is rampant at my end of the country. My parents have me scared for my life to be gay, and I couldn't imagine the amount of pressure people would slap down on my if I got a boyfriend. I think they probably stopped her because they have that rule 'family only'. And since she was just her girlfriend, it doesn't count.

I dissagree with that rule, of course, and so do most of you I am sure. But Hospitals do it for safety reasons mostly, the same thing happens to straight people.

They weren't married where they? Because that would be obvious discrimination.

They can't be married. It's America and not Massachusetts or California.

And honestly, if they had been opposite sex, they might very well have been considered common-law spouses, although I've found out that's not a status as widespread in US states as it is in former British colonies.

And if they had been straight and just "dating," I suspect the hospital would have been a heck of a lot more open.

[joeyconnick]

Originally Posted by cc6log

Is there a reasonable case here? How were the kids connected to her legally? Too many details left out of this article for me...

What could possibly constitute "reasonableness" in the hospital's actions?

I suspect the kids were probably not biologically related to her, or else there would have been less issue.

[Vampyrecat]

It's not just america. Go to australia and you'll see the same thing in most states & territories.

[Poring]

OMG. That was so mean and just absolutely horrible thing to do!

I really wish the hospital loses that lawsuit, and justice is given to where it is deserved.

[SamAlex728]

jeez, and ppl think i have no reason to hate hospitals
urgh
(tess, i'll smack u cos i say that waaaaaaaaayyy too much now, and its UR FAULT )

[Blitzkrieg]

It's sad that prejudice is still a rampant part of the world, I really hope she wins her lawsuit against that hospital. It's just saddening to know that people are treated in such a negative fashion because of who they are.

[pirateninja]

That is horrible. Words can't describe just how angry I feel at the hospital. If either partner had been male, I seriously doubt that the hospital would have done what they had done here.

"not considered family", bullshit.

[Kenko]

Wow. It's as if they went out of their way to be as difficult as possible.

Originally Posted by Beebo

I for one, as a canadian, can say that homophobia is rampant at my end of the country.

End of the country? You live in the middle of the country.

As someone that lives in a major center on the east coast, I'm going to say that it's there, but not as bad as in other places.

[InaRut]

I'll agree with Kenko. I think Canada does quite well with it's non-discriminational ways. I mean yea we still have anti-gays but I'm pretty sure around my age group most people shrug it off. I mean I act pretty gay around my friends in terms of inappropriate hugging or touching and it isn't at all seen as wierd or something wrong..usually it's funny but whatever haha. And my ex-lesbian (now bisexual?) friend is pretty much accepted by everyone for being...what ever she is.

[jazzrawr]

Yeah, i think in Canada we have far less discrimination, but it's definately still there. There's actually ALOT of out lesbians at my school...3 or 4 at least, and they are really well liked. Nobody dares discriminate really, or they'll have about 400 people hating them.

But this hospital...is disgusting.
I can't believe they would do that to anyone.
That's just cruel.

[musicgirl112233]

Wow that is so horrible!!!!