"female patients will be uncomfortable having a lesbian nurse caring for them"

[pokerfan]

-from a letter from a nursing faculty member to a nursing student.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/04/flagrant_anti-gay_discriminati.php

:wtf:

[coffeenap]

1. Yeah, but they will go to a straight male gynecologist!

Oy!

[BlooInBloo]

8. That's all that needs to be said about that.

[Brazenly Liberal]

31. I was about to post a 10 page bitch n' rant, but you said it all in one sentence.

Well done!!

[Arkansas Granny]

48. My first reaction, also.

[JerseygirlCT]

70. Not me, thanks!

I even prefer a gyn. who's had children, actually, Made a huge difference through my pregnancy to have someone who'd BTDT.

[dembotoz]

2. do they dress different?

[glowing]

3. Why? Why is that any more uncomfortable than a man caring for them?

This idea that gay people are also pedophiles or rapists is ridiculous.

[pokerfan]

9. so I guess this means

that only straight male nurses should care for male patients and straight felmale nurses can handle the female patients. And oh yeah, all health care practitioners need to declare their preferences. Perhaps they should wear a badge or a ribbon.

I guess bisexuals are left out completely.

WTF is going on in Canada?

[ret5hd]

73. maybe a colored star???

[WhiteTara]

4. sounds like a personal problem

with lesbians...not patients.

[nc4bo]

5. She gets an "A" in Teh Stupid. nt

[lazer47]

6. How do they know?? Do they wear a sign or something, is there a secret handshake

[JerseygirlCT]

71. Psst... It's those comfortable shoes. Oh, wait, nurses all wear those comfortable shoes! nt

[csziggy]

74. That is what I was wondering. I never met a nurse and thought

"She's a lesbian!" In fact, the sexual preferences of my doctors or my nurses never entered my mind. They were always professional and as far as their work, asexual. That is all I need to know.

[DeepBlueC]

7. how would they know?

Is it part of the standard introduction to announce one's sexual preference?

[Kookaburra]

10. That's a load of guano.

If I'm sick I'm certainly not going to ask the person making me better who she sleeps with, for crying out loud. The only thing I'll be thinking about is "can she heal me".

Some people are so damned stupid.

[izzie]

11. funny

--

[NC_Nurse]

12. Lots of nursing professors are relics from another time. Sounds like this one

is no exception. I hope some things change in our profession over the next decade, or we will continue to have huge shortages
and terrible working conditions. Sadly, I think a lot more men will have to enter the field before we ever get any respect. :(

[Mari333]

44. so true

when I was in college I worked in hospitals part time, and my application form for my job always always asked me if I was a homosexual. This was 1972....I remember thinking back then, this is bullshit.

[fasttense]

13. Female patients are being cared for by lesbian nurses, right now.

They just don't know it.

[Quantess]

49. Or, they don't care.

I'm pretty sure I've encountered several lesbian health care workers, but I didn't really care either way. :shrug:

[TwilightGardener]

14. Was I required to disclose my sexual orientation to my patients?

"I'm Twilight Gardener, and don't worry, I'm heterosexual!! Your sick, smelly body will NOT turn me on!!"

[Stevenmarc]

15. Gee has their been an upsurge in the sale of "No Lesbians" medical bracelets

[ensho]

16. I opened this thread just to see what nitwit said that

sorry to see it came from a Nursing School person.

[TwilightGardener]

22. There's a lot of really bad nursing instructors out there--a unique feature of nursing school

is that many instructors feel they are "gatekeepers" to the profession, and they deliberately discourage and try to weed out those whom they feel don't fit their ideal image of an RN, regardless of grades and performance.

[Buzz Clik]

17. That letter reads like a spoof.

"Your sexual orientation is something important that patients have a right to know so that they can decide if they wish to have you as their caregiver. I myself am not homophobic at all, but I would not want a lesbian nurse caring for me when I am vulnerable. I would just not feel comfortable with that."

Okey dokey.

How do you spell "lawsuit"?

[noamnety]

28. I love when my doctor/nurse announces their orientation to me.

Nothing puts me at ease - or screams professionalism - like having a male doctor announce "Just so you know, I screw women" right before examining me.

[rocktivity]

33. But a male nurse is okay?

Especially a straight one?

:crazy:
rocktivity

[DeschutesRiver]

55. If you can't tell without asking, how important is it to you to know? What a bunch of morons.

Until she moved out of the area, my ob-gyn was a lesbian, and I can't figure out why that would make a difference in the slightest.

I generally do prefer a woman of any kind over a guy, just because I've tried out a few who were stunning unimpressive regarding how seriously I take this whole sucky menopause thing. I want someone with the same parts and experiences, so they don't blow my concerns off.

I did have a male ob-gyn when I was 18, old guy who I used until he retired, who was a gem, but haven't found another one worth my time in the ensuing years.

[RC]

67. And after she move she wasn't?

"Until she moved out of the area, my ob-gyn was a lesbian..."
Maybe that is the 'cure' :evilgrin:

[DeschutesRiver]

68. Interesting theory! It may be something that the fundies should pursue

could sexual orientation be "fixed" by a simple change of scenery? Or would a long cruise be enough time out of the area to do the trick for those on a budget?

Is homosexuality nothing more than something in the air you breath? A bad wind blowing... The micro climate in your neighborhood? The trees, or birds or local bees causing you to lust after the same sex?

Of course, I'd be loathe to fund that study, as I am sure they would be thrilled to suggest that we ship them all to some island. Or maybe better we put them on the island, and tell them they can come back once they have proof.... :thumbsup:

[backscatter712]

18. I'll take stereotyping for a thousand, Alex!

Everybody knows that straight people can control themselves when they're around people of the opposite sex, but gay people just can't keep themselves from hitting on you!

I thought everyone knew that!

[liberalmuse]

19. That's one of the dumbest things I've ever read.

I just love when certain narrow minded people presume to speak for us all without using any basis in fact for their assumptions. I'd personally feel more comfortable with a lesbian nurse or doctor than a male one because I'm guessing she likely knows the equipment better because she's female. Also, according to studies, female doctors ask more questions and are more communicative than male doctors. Also, I'm guessing that it's none of my damn business whether or not a doctor or nurse is gay. They probably aren't going to be listed as, 'Jane Smith, Lesbian RN'

[Warpy]

20. Oh, BULLSHIT

Nurses are both sexes and all sexual orientations. We don't wear labels telling people we're gay or straight. We aren't out to convert anyone to anything except quitting the smoking and poor diet that landed them in a cardiac ward.

I wonder if this idiot would consider sending out letters to heterosexual nurses telling them they're unqualified to care for patients of the opposite sex because of the paroxysms of lust or overwhelming terror of rape they'd inspire.

Patients don't need to know anything about us beyond the fact that we are educated and licensed and know what we're doing.

Whoever sent that letter out has no business being a nursing instructor or a nurse.

[shireen]

21. feels like we're still living in the dark ages.

reading that article made my blood boil. :mad:

[JeanGrey]

23. Bigotry

Don't they have laws in Canada??

[a la izquierda]

24. For the love of jim...

I request a female gynecologist all the time. I see a male doctor for regular stuff, but for my female problems, I go to a woman. I wouldn't give a rat's ass if she were gay.

Seriously, what is wrong with people?

[Kookaburra]

29. Same here

Who is more likely to have experienced the same symptoms? A man or a woman? Right. And that's who I would rather help me.

[Missy Vixen]

43. I've never been to a male gynecologist

Our former doctor (a female) had a partner. We had no idea till we saw a photo of her and her partner displayed during a breast cancer campaign in a local department store.

Current doctor: A male. I think a lot of him professionally, but I'll be going to a female for that "yearly exam".

[RC]

25. Just what is the fascination of some people with other peoples sexual preferences?

And how does this preference affect the performance of their jobs?
Please help me, I'm clueless here.

[Deja Q]

36. Why does our society now make a habit of making money and attention by wanting to know?

Long before all sorts of (washed up) stars "came out" because they wanted another 15 minutes of fame, they were saying the right things. Meaningless waffle such as "Why does it matter?"

Of course, times change. And our media is now so full of these little events that it's now almost mandatory to discuss some celebrity's sex life, as if not knowing will mean the end of life as we know it. :eyes:

It's infantile.

There's a time and a place for everything. Even a sense of humor, bad or otherwise. In my job, it'd be DUMB to say "Well, I fixed your database and killed the virus infecting your desktop. BTW: I'm bisexual and like to ________ and ________ and really really like to ______ __________." No no no no no!!! You don't do that in a job setting unless it's asked of you!! And if one is asked, it's up to the relevance of the situation and the willingness of the person asked to share. It really is nobody else's business. Basic societal rules, right?

[acmavm]

26. Some days it's just depressing to see how far we've devolved.

This woman was absolutely ignorant.

[Spazito]

27. All one needs to know about the letter writer is encapsulated in...

this:

"I myself am not homophobic at all, but..."

Telegraphing exactly what they ARE.

Goes with the:

"I myself am not racist at all, but...."

[HysteryDiagnosis]

30. I would be interested in being taken care of, or cared for by two bisexual

nurses. Guys know what I mean. I'll be standing in the corner now.

[Fovea]

32. In 1976 my life was saved

by an African American bouncer and pimp.

He was not a moral paragon, but he put a gun in the back of the head of the guy who was reaching
for a pistol to rob me.

Who was in the liquor store at the time?
One junkie armed robber.
One pimp with 9mm.
One white liquor clerk who was caught flat footed.

There were no saints in that store, but without Kenny
I think I might have been in deep shit.

How is this relevant?

I did not go out and hire one of his girls.
I did not go out and become a pimp.
I did regularly slip him a pint of crown royal, however.

I don't give a fuck about the sexual preference of my health care provider.
Chances are they are not as kinky as I.

[Deja Q]

34. Dark ages or not, some people feel that way.

:(

I don't. I don't care what others do in their private lives. Just do the job you're good at. That's why they studied and trained in the medical profession.

But there are some who feel weird or icky or what not. Whether it's nature or nuture, I do not conclusively know.

The other issue is, why would somebody need to tell everybody else what they do in the bedroom? What relevance does it have to the employer or customer? Relevance in some fields, yes. Others, no. Sexuality is part of our lives but I don't see any big need to tell people all the things I do in bed unless it's asked or stereotyped upon me. Then I'll answer.

[LynnTheDem]

35. Oh bullshit.

"nursing faculty member" is an idiot.

[8 track mind]

37. I could truly care less

what the sexual orientation of my nurse is. I usually wind up in the hospital after doing something incredibly stupid on a dirt bike. All i care about is the nurse making the large amount of ouch go away.

[Blue Diadem]

38. That's just crazy. Who in the world would care about the sexual orientation

of the person caring for them, it's not like patients plan on sleeping with their nurses/Drs. Cripes, it's mostly been male OB-GYNS for years.

That poor girl. I hope she sues and is successful. What they've done to her is awful. I'm shocked that this is happening in Canada.

[no_hypocrisy]

39. Solution: Have only male homosexuals work on them. No predatory problem there.

:sarcasm:

I have yet to meet a predatory lesbian.

[Withywindle]

40. Why do str8 homophobes always think GLBT people will find them sexually irresistible

in any circumstances?


Personally, I find people with that mindset a gigantic turnoff. Ugh. Don't worry, you chickenshits, this hot bi babe will never ever ever molest you in your hospital bed. :puke:

[Peacetrain]

41. Thats is bezonkers....

the only thing that would make me uncomfortable is if someone came in and said "Hi I'm nurse Susie, and I am a lesbian". I would have the exact same reaction if said same nurse came in and said.. "Hi, I'm nurse Susie and I am straight.".. Who the heck cares, do you know what the heck you are doing, is the only thing that would be going through my mind.

I don't give a glass of Russian tea what a persons sexual preference is, just as long as they are competent.

[Tim01]

42. HA! What an idiot!

Holy shit that's ridiculous! WOW!

[LWolf]

45. How the hell

am I supposed to know the sexual orientation of a nurse who is taking care of me, when I am in bad enough shape to NEED a nurse?

Should they wear badges? Perhaps yellow stars, or brands, or something?

I sure as hell can't be "uncomfortable" if they don't. And if I'm sick, and the thing at the forefront of my mind is to wonder about my caretaker's private life, and sexual orientation, perhaps I should be treated by a psychiatrist instead of a nurse.

Of course, all those straight male gynecologists and obstetricians are just FINE. :eyes:

[Oeditpus Rex]

46. My doctor's a lesbian

But I'm a guy, so I guess that's okay. :shrug:

[proud patriot]

47. What a horrible thing to say and completely incorrect

I'm straight , and having a Lesbian nurse would be
no different IMHO.

[Obamarama]

50. Pardon the pun but this smells a little fishy to me....

Okay...you can go ahead and shoot me, but while I know better, I just couldn't help myself with my subject line.

I'm not saying it DIDN'T happen. I'm just shocked beyond belief that it really did. And if it did, I'd be hiring a damned good barrister (do they call them barristers in CN as they do in the UK, or do you simply refer to them as lawyers?).

I'm in nursing school at the moment acutally, and I'm out. I've not actually come out and announced "I'm gay." I just have always openly talked about my partner using the "he" pronoun and have never had an issue with any of my instructors or classmates.

I would never discuss my personal life with a patient, and I wouldn't do so if I were straight, either. It's just not part of the equation when it comes to patient care. I have been asked by patients if I am married. If I were king and it were up to me I'd reply with "No, but I would be if 47 states, Michigan included, didn't classify me as a second-class citizen." But I just reply with "No, but I am in fact spoken for," and then quickly change the subject.

[bettyellen]

60. your reply seems pretty mysogynistic to me..... not suited for OB GYN work are you?

[Obamarama]

62. Nothing mysoginistic about it. It's called humor.

Mysogonistic my ass. Look, I worked with a lesbian who made references to "tuna" and "something smells fishy." She can make those references, but because I'm a male I can't use them in a clever, humorous way?

[davsand]

51. Oh fer f**k's sake. Are you SO irresistible that you make every professional desire you?

I'm pretty sure I am not "hot" enough to blindly attract ANYONE--there is an element of self control that is ALWAYS gonna be present (if not actual revulsion) in any human I contact--let alone a person doing a job.

I have NEVER been able to get my head around anyone that thinks they are automatically inspire some insane desire in anyone they meet. The absolute conceit just leaves me breathless.

This, however, coming from an instructor is just so far past sanity it defies belief.

:puke:


Laura

[Obamarama]

54. Especially when they are puking, shitting, have tubes in and out of them...

I mean it's not enough that they probably wouldn't send most people into heat, but who do some people someone is going to find their average selves attractive when they are puking, shitting and bleeding?

[juno jones]

52. Reminds me of a woman I worked with in IL

She would get the worst stress and tension headaches. I suggested massage and she vetoed that right away beacause she didn't want a strange man touching her body. I then said that there were women massuses as well to which she literally recoiled in horror. Women were even worse. Lord knows what would happen if a massuse happened to be a lesbian. Apparently, she thought her lumpy middle-age body was catnip for them or something.

Then again, many of the women I grew up in the midwest with were so uptight about physical contact that every touch they recieved could only be processed as 'sexual' and something to be avoided, especially from other women.

I'm so glad I moved to CA and learned that hugging and handholding can be casually enjoyed as friendly affection with no sex attached.

Sad to see this idiocy in the medical profession tho...

[pokerfan]

56. George and the Massage (Seinfeld)

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6lMOTQtTqA (2:39)
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXvPqOGujXc (1:58)

"I think it moved!" :rofl:

[juno jones]

75. Thank you.

I haven't really had TV for years, so I didn't see much Seinfeld.

I will be looking this up. :hi:

My mom was a Physical Therapist who worked in state hospitals in IL. She was a big fan of massage, theraputic touch, etc. for her patients. She observed that 'undesired' behaviors like rocking and headbanging were relieved somewhat by touch stimulus. She felt that we needed more human touch and without it we didn't thrive.

The paranoia of being touched in almost any way in much of our society is a sad thing which, based on the observations my mother related, could have far deeper ramifications than mere tension headaches.

Think of our closest evolutionary cousins and how much time they spend touching each other. We're out of -ahem- touch here.

[JitterbugPerfume]

53. that is so stupid it doe not even deserve an answer

A gay Dr delivered my babies, so why should I fear a lesbian nurse?

[Vidar]

57. Homophobic bullshit!

[LisaL]

58. Did any of you read what was posted on

Posted on: April 4, 2009 11:26 PM, by PZ Myers?

[pokerfan]

63. I have now

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/04/flagrant_anti-gay_discriminati.php#comment-1531501

[rocktivity]

59. GO TO LAWYER! GO DIRECTLY TO LAWYER!

Do not pass college, DO collect a WHOLE LOT of dollars..

:evilgrin:
rocktivity

[uppityperson]

61. FAKE, now they say the email is faked! Photo of email has been deleted also.

I REALLY HATE people who stir up shit like this. There is enough crap already, WHY try for 15 minutes of OMG outrage. assholes who do things like this, bah

[TorchTheWitch]

64. Of course it was fake

No nursing instructor would ever think much less say anything so completely assinine... like it wouldn't occur to a nursing instructor that women go to male OB/GYN's (the majority of whom are straight) all the time or that announcing your sexual preference to a patient before examining them for the first time wouldn't send said patient screaming out of the room? I'm baffled that anyone really believed this was actually written by a real nursing instructor.

[uppityperson]

65. Sometimes instant "news" is good, other times can be manipulative, manufacturing outrage inappropria

[JI7]

66. does the same apply to heterosexual male gynecologists ?

[JerseygirlCT]

69. And why would they even need to know about the orientation of their caregiver?

I certainly don't find myself interested in the romantic lives of the nurses who've cared for me. Can't imagine asking such a personal question!

And if the information was volunteered, I wouldn't be troubled in the least, thanks. Is she a good, caring nurse? Then we're fine.

[dustbunnie]

72. People will believe anything. Funny! n/t

[elleng]

76. Last time I was in a hospital,

nurses did not wear labels: "Lesbian," "Not Lesbian," "Gay," "Not Gay," etc.

[Control-Z]

77. Without reading through the thread -

I say bullshit. Just bullshit. A good and concerned nurse is all that would ever matter to me. Is someone trying to suggest that a lesbian nurse would be somehow less efficient and caring? If anything, I would say the contrary. The lesbian women in my family are the brightest, most tolerant and caring women I have known. I'm talking long term behavior with my own children, and with me.

This nursing faculty member has no idea what she is talking about.

Ignorance sure can be stoopid.

[GoneOffShore]

78. Went and had a look - It would appear that this is a trollish hoax.

But you have to read through both the Pharyngula comment threads and the Reddit threads.