Orlando Health Diversity Initiative - Video 9

Here is the link to this week's video that discusses Orlando Health's action in silencing my voice on their Facebook page this week. In silencing me, they opened the door for several others to stand up for equality in the workplace. See the short video at the link below.

LINK TO VIDEO

Then do the following:

1. Join Orlando Health's Facebook page and share the message mentioned in the video.

2. Call Orlando Health and ask them why they don't offer domestic partner benefits and why they don't have a diversity office. 321-841-5111.

Thank you for your support.

Alan L. Bounville

Former Orlando Health employee and current donor

407-484-6671

alanbounville@gmail.com

Hateful and Disturbing Facebook Emails

I sent this person a Facebook friend request this evening as I do to many people who are fans of Orlando Health. Some people ask who I am and of course I tell them. Here is the whole chain of messages between us. As I continue to say, when you scratch the surface you uncover so much...

From Ed Laucks in response to my Facebook friend request:

You don't say who you are. You picked me off a site that daughter is on. She doesn't know you. So, what's the deal? I don't agree with a lot of what you say.

My reply to Ed Laucks:

Ed,

I am a former employee and current donor of Orlando Health. I have several friends who work there - gay and straight. Orlando Health has for years been trying to suppress voices. They don't want to offer domestic partner benefits to gay or straight employees, they don't want to create a diversity office to allow employees to bring their different cultural voices to the shaping of the organization.

What part of what I say don't you agree with?

Ed Laucks' reply to me:

Well, for one you are barking up the wrong tree. I am Christian and do not believe in queer life styles. I've had too many queers hit on me in my life who don't know how to take no for answer. And then you expect me to support your cause? Not a chance! I've been married for 30 years! I was raped by a male doctor when I was young in his office.

You would never want to step in front of me. I don't care what you think of me! I don't believe in anything you say! I have my rights to believe in what I want. And you can't make me think otherwise. So bark up somebody elses boner.

My response to Ed Laucks:

Ed,

I am sorry you were raped by a male doctor. That is horrible. Whether that feeds into your homophobia or not - what you say here is extremely hurtful and parallel to the hate people express to people of color, women or any other minority group.

It is also very unfortunate if you are spreading this hate to your family.

And if some day I do happen to step in front of you I would hope you would not cause me any physical harm as that would not at all be Christian of you. In fact, I can't at all what is Christian in any of your statements - unless being Christian means also being homophobic and threatening to LGBT people.

My final message to Ed Laucks:

Ed,

You should know I have posted our communication on the blog I manage in regard to this movement. I assure you - if you were to pursue any kind of further threat I will seek legal action.

Here is the link to the blog post.

http://ohdi.blogspot.com/2009/12/hateful-and-disturbing-facebook-emails.html

Sincerely,

Alan L. Bounville

Orlando Health Fights Back!

PLEASE READ THE FIRST POST OF TODAY BEFORE READING THIS ONE.

As a direct result of people defending my right to speak about the need for Orlando Health to be more culturally competent today - just now Orlando Health updated it's status and created a new policy of how it wants to control the public's interaction with their Facebook page. Let's break this down for all to see what they are REALLY doing here...

Orlando Health Post - Made today at 3:29 pm after four people have defended my position that Orlando Health should not have removed me from having the ability to share the message of inclusion that 215 have voiced to date through the online petition supporting a more inclusive environment at Orlando Health:

"Our fan page is 5 weeks old – and we’re thrilled at how quickly it’s growing. In response to that growth, we’ve created an etiquette policy for our fan page. We’ve posted it under the notes tab for you to review. It details our commitment to protecting the integrity of this community. We encourage all of our fans to be relevant and respectful to the community as a whole. Thanks for being a fan of Orlando Health."

Here is what the policy they uploaded at 3:06 pm today states. Note the sections bolded with my response below:

"Facebook is a place where Orlando Health fans can engage the organization and each other. Orlando Health is responsible for protecting the integrity of the community on our fan page. The page is designed to be a safe place to share information, ideas, stories and even differing opinions. However, there are some general rules of conduct that we expect our fans to follow when participating on this page.

Here they are:
• Posts may not be to the detriment or disturbance of the community or its members.
• Posts may not be abusive, defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, harassing, deceptive or misleading, solicitous or promotional in nature, or in violation of any law or regulation.
• The topics covered on the page must be relevant and respectful to our community as a whole. Any posts representing niche messaging will be reviewed for relevance and respect, and may be removed.
• Fans may not post advertisements, chain letters, or pyramid schemes, and may not post the same note more than once, or ‘spam’.
• All grievances with the organization should be filed through the proper channels.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations must be followed at all times. Posts should never contain another person’s full or partial personal health information.
• Team members of Orlando Health should refer to the Orlando Health social networking policy for more information and further guidelines.

Orlando Health reserves the right to do the following:
• Remove communications that are in violation of the Orlando Health Facebook Etiquette policy.
• Block a user from participating if that user’s behavior disrupts the community.

The comments posted by fans to this page do not represent the opinions of Orlando Health, its officers, directors, or affiliates."

My response:

1. Orlando Health is blocking out my differing opinion. That is against their own knee jerk reaction policy.

2. Everything that I have shared on the Orlando Health Facebook Page has been relevant an respectful to the community as a whole for injustice anywhere - IS injustice everywhere.

3. What pray tell are the proper channels one must navigate for Orlando Health to follow through with the proposal presented to leadership that calls for the organization to offer domestic partner benefits, create a diversity office and come into the 21st century in regard to being culturally competent.

4. I wonder what the 'team member' social networking policy is? I wonder if it includes team members only being allowed to say nice things about the place they work. Sounds very similar to the mandatory anti-union meetings the hospital is making all employees sit through.

Please continue posting what's in your heart and mind on Orlando Health's Facebook Page.

Orlando Health - you put up a transparent fight - but sooner or later you will have to concede - Equality ALWAYS wins.

Thank you.

Alan L. Bounville

Former Orlando Health employee and current donor

407-484-6671

alanbounville@gmail.com