Recently, while visiting my partner, Christian, in New Jersey’s Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center, we both experienced the heartbreaking and embarrassing experience of being openly discriminated against by members of the nursing staff because we are in a gay relationship.
As Christian’s grandparents hugged and kissed him goodbye for the evening, I started to do the same, when suddenly two nurses yelled: “No contact, that is inappropriate!” When I questioned the fairness of their orders, I was promptly removed from Christian’s visitors list and was unable to have any communication with him until he was released.
Not only was this a cruel and inhumane action, but it clearly goes against President Obama’s 2010 mandate to The Department of Health and Human Services prohibiting discrimination against gay couples hospital visitation rights.
Saint Barnabas is the largest hospital system in New Jersey, this gives them opportunity to openly discriminate against countless other gay couples. Please demand they adjust their policies to adhere to the President’s mandate and stop discriminating against gay couple’s rights!
Attn: Director, Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center
In 2010 President Obama sent a mandate to The Department of Health and Human Services prohibiting the discrimination of gay citizens while visiting their partners in hospitals. This mandate insured that gay couples would be treated the same as heterosexual couples when their loved ones are sick and in need of support.
However, this mandate did not stop the nursing staff of Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center from yelling at me and having me banned from visiting my partner just because we are in a gay relationship.
The people who have signed this petition stand with me, and all gay couples in America, and demand that your medical organization not only provide us both an apology, but reevalute its current practices and follow the law!
Sincerely,
