VIA: Pam Spaulding FB Notes,
As of Veterans Day 2011, more than 10,000 people have joined a growing campaign on Change.org demanding Dallas VA Medical Center fire nurse who allegedly subjected honorably discharged lesbian Marine veteran to anti-gay tirade.
DALLAS, TX – More than 10,000 people have joined a popular campaign on Change.org supporting a lesbian veteran’s demand that the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center investigate and fire a nurse who allegedly subjected the veteran to a homophobic rant about her sexual orientation.
According to a report in the Dallas Voice, former Marine Lance Corporal Esther Garatie, 28, went to the Dallas VA Medical Center on October 12 to “seek treatment for severe depression and possible post-traumatic stress disorder — including thoughts of suicide.” Garatie, who was wounded and honorably discharged from the Marines, claims that nurse practitioner Lincy Pandithurai told her the reason she was depressed and contemplating suicide was because she is a lesbian.
“She sat down and looked at me, and her first question was, ‘Are you a lesbian?’” Garatie wrote in a personal statement written one day after the incident and published by the Voice. “Her second question to me was, ‘Have you asked God into your heart? Have you been saved by Jesus Christ?’”
“This is when I realized that I was no longer a United States veteran in her eyes,” Garatie continued. “I was just a homosexual.”
Within hours of the hospital visit Esther’s friend Jessica Gerson launched a campaign and recruited hundreds of supporters on Change.org, the world’s fastest growing platform for social change. As of Veterans Day, more than 12,000 people have now signed the online petition campaign.
“I can’t imagine Esther’s feeling very appreciated this Veterans Day,” said Gerson. “Esther was honorably discharged from the military for an injury she incurred while serving her country. How dare Nurse Pandithurai attack her with such bigotry and intolerance? She should be fired from the Dallas VA Medical Center and have her license revoked by the Texas Board of Nursing.”
Garatie has filed official complaints with the VA Medical Center and the Texas Board of Nursing against the nurse practitioner. Monica Smith, a spokeswoman for the VA Medical Center, confirmed to Change.org in an email that the Dallas VA is currently reviewing the complaint and will complete its investigation within the next few weeks.
“We started a fact-finding review when this allegation was first brought to our attention,” said Smith. “To get a more in-depth look at the allegation, VA North Texas is now conducting an administrative investigation board review and expects to have that completed by the end of November.”
Live signature totals from Jessica Gerson’s campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/dallas-va-medical-center-fire-homophobic-nurse-for-harassing-lesbian-marine-veteran
Dallas Voice coverage:
http://www.dallasvoice.com/va-nurse-accused-anti-gay-tirade-1093109.html
Statement by Esther Garatie, published by the Dallas Voice:
http://www.dallasvoice.com/esther-garaties-statement-1093071.html
Journalists interested in contacting the Dallas VA Medical Center or Texas Nursing Board public relations staff should try:
Monica A. Smith, Public Affairs Office, Dallas VA Medical Center
monicaa.smith@va.org
(214) 857-1158
Bruce Holter, Spokesperson, Texas Board of Nursing
bruce.holter@bon.texas.gov
(512) 305-6842
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