Stories of LGBT Healthcare Discrimination
Discrimination, or the fear of discrimination, undermines the delivery of quality care. A clearly stated non-discrimination policy or patients’ bill of rights that forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression is an important first step in encouraging openness and in creating a climate for delivery of quality care.
Below are personal stories related to experiences of LGBT healthcare discrimination.
- Emergency Room Experience
At our covenant ceremony, I took James to be my life partner, "for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death." At the ceremony, I promised James: "I’m not leaving, no matter what." - Being By His Side
Bill and I went to New Orleans for an annual weeklong get-together with friends from college. We all went to a restaurant for lunch. Bill is highly allergic to shellfish and had a severe reaction to a pasta dish with sauce we later found out contained crawfish. We ended up taking a trip to the emergency room. - The Person I Count On
We had our first date 12 years ago. In September 1993, we had a commitment ceremony that was attended by 100 of our friends and family (my partner’s family), including our priest, who came without his collar and blessed our union. - The Need for Legal Planning
When I was first admitted, the woman in the X-ray department was very kind to us and allowed my partner, Brenda, to come in the back with me. However, once they put me in my room, they wouldn’t allow Brenda in or tell her my condition because she wasn’t "family." - Next of Kin
At my mom’s deathbed was her partner, her sister, my sister and me. Minutes after Mom died, the doctor on call came into the room and asked who next of kin was. Melanie, my mother’s partner, responded saying she was her partner and healthcare proxy, then added that she also had power of attorney. - Simple, Basic Rights
Shelley and I have been together for more than four years. We were "legally" married in the state of Oregon for a short period of time in 2004. But because our marriage is no longer considered a legal binding contract, we are not afforded the same rights afforded all married heterosexual couples. - Committed, In Sickness and in Health
When my partner, Tracey, and I decided on Valentine’s Day to formally recognize our commitment to each other this fall, little did we know what lay ahead of us.
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