Orlando Health Discrimination Mentioned by National Media Outlet

Read the link below that details the group I have co-founded here in New York City and see how the oppression at Orlando Health is mentioned. This is the second media mention of the oppression taking place at Orlando Health - and it is in a national LGBTQI publication, reaching thousands of people.

As this movement continues to grow and allow more and more people to feel comfortable talking openly about the bigotry and oppression at Orlando Health - the better off we all will be.

LINK TO ARTICLE

Note: The article is featured on the main New York City page and is linked from all EDGE city home pages pages nationwide.

Orlando Health - be prepared for direct action because it's coming your way as we DEMAND equality in the workplace. NO MORE EXCUSES.

If you would like to get involved in direct actions against Orlando Health, please contact me at:

Alan L. Bounville

407-484-6671

alanbounville@gmail.com

Thank you.

Alan L. Bounville

Only Marrieds and Straights Given Full Benefits Here

Video 8 - Beginning Preparation for the Stage

This week I share a bit of the early preparation of turning this story into a staged piece of theatre for presentation at the 2010 Orlando International Fringe Festival. Writing this short script was quite emotional for me - but sharing the reality of the resistance to this movement is vital for all to see the hate and misunderstanding that exists against those who seek to allow more voices into the conversation.

LINK TO VIDEO 8

Thank you.

Alan L. Bounville

Former Orlando Health employee and current donor - who doesn't give up.

407-484-6671

alanbounville@gmail.com

I'm Blocked from Making Comments on Orlando Health's Facebook Page

For weeks now I have been periodically posting petition signer's comments on the new Orlando Health Facebook Fan Page. I have also provided other valuable feedback about things people and the organization have posted that fly in the face of true cultural competence. This morning I woke up and found out I've been 'unfriended' from their page. I was able to rejoin, but am not longer able to post anymore comments. NOTE - NOTHING I HAVE POSTED IS OFFENSIVE OR QUESTIONABLE - IT IS ALL FACTUAL AND COMES FROM A LEVEL MINDED PLACE.

BUT - everyone else can still post comments.

Please, if you haven't already join the Orlando Health Facebook Fan Page and let them know silencing a message of diversity and inclusion is wrong. Here are points to mention:

• Orlando Health needs to offer Domestic Partner Benefits to employees.
• Orlando Health needs to create a diversity office where ALL voices are heard and empowered.
• Orlando Health needs to revise its patient and employee policies so that all people are ensured equal treatment at the hospital.

Then, email the hospital president at john.hillenmeyer@orlandohealth.com demanding a response.

Central Florida Residents - This is YOUR hospital that is treating people unequally. My friends who are LGBT or people of color who work there are not equal in the workplace.

Everyone Else - The more light that is shed on this issue the better - like Dr. King said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Thank you.

Alan L. Bounville

Former Orlando Health employee and current donor

alanbounville@gmail.com

407-484-6671

What Was Faxed to Doctors?

I've received the question - what was faxed to Orlando Health affiliated doctor offices?

Below is the copy of the single page fax that I sent to doctor's offices over the past couple days. Why this would inspire such hateful emails to me and stern voice messages only shows what is really under the surface in Central Florida in regard to inclusivity.

"Dear Orlando Health Affiliated Physician Group,

Since I’ve been blocked by Orlando Health to email you – I am sending you this second fax in what will be a series you will receive. In the last fax I shared with you why it is important for healthcare providers who are affiliated with Orlando Health to stand up and support the petition at www.tinyurl.com/ohdiversity encouraging Orlando Health to fall in line with true healthcare leaders like:

Yale-New Haven Hospital, Children’s Hospital Boston, Duke University Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Group Health Central Hospital, Bedford Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic and many more to among other things provide domestic partner benefits for their employees. It is just wrong that Orlando Health does not treat all employees the same. How can Orlando Health be on the forefront of healthcare without adhering to the principles outlined in the petition? The truth – they are not on the forefront of healthcare because of bias such as this.

Here are some recent petition signatures:

Orlando Health Affiliated Physician, Dr. Mark P. Trolice (signed after I faxed over 1,700 Orlando Health doctor offices like yours)

“Increasing education and cultural awareness of diverse patient populations is critical to the health of our society and mandatory for any health care provider/organization. Our goal must be to facilitate the comfort of our patients as we provide the highest quality of care.”

Orlando Health Employee, Michael Cherry

“I am a team member of Orlando Health and while I am often proud of the work done here I am ashamed of the message this kind of bias sends out. This institutionalized bigotry flies in the face of the values that our caring work normally reflects. Institutionalized bigotry contributes to violence and strife in the workplace and the community. It is in direct opposition to the Orlando Health mission of promoting health in the community.”

Community Member and Healthcare Provider, Cynthia Grow

“Community providers, myself included, need to be vigilant by doing all we can to encourage companies and individual public servants to support EQUAL rights for ALL no matter what! Doing NOTHING or remaining SILENT regarding crucial company policies that would alleviate suffering or protect individual's and couples' rights means that your company CONDONES discrimination. SHAME on you, ORLANDO HEALTH. Step up and DO what's RIGHT!!”

The petition to support this effort can be found at: www.tinyurl.com/ohdiveristy

All videos, a copy of the original proposal Orlando Health ignored and history on this movement can be found at: www.ohdi.blogspot.com

There are 190 signatures on this petition to date.

Your voice matters! Sign the petition today.

Sincerely,

Alan L. Bounville

Former Orlando Health Employee and Current Donor

407-484-6671

alanbounville@gmail.com

“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

Taking a Week Off?

Hardly!

I wanted to let you know that the only reason I have not posted the weekly video showing this week's additional signatures is because I have taken on a protest project this week, here in my new home of New York City. Trust me - the momentum has most definitely moved forward this week and it's killing me not to be able to share it all with you until next week.

However know this:

• Some very - VERY powerful comments have come through the petition this week (hint: you could just go to the petition link above if you want to read them right now).
• There is a coalition forming between this movement and other health care institutions who are going through similar inequality struggles.
• An exciting organizational endorsement to the petition is on its way.

Though it is very exciting to see the momentum continue to build - it is also disheartening that Orlando Health leaders are still inactive. Let me rephrase that because I'm not under their thumb anymore and I can say it like it is - it's disgusting!

But - this is what bigots do. In every social movement where an oppressed group is seeking equality, those who hold the power can wield it at their discretion - that is until enough pressure is put on the oppressing group to force a change. Each movement's tipping point is different, but what is clear is that it takes all kinds of activities to gain equality.

It takes petitions, meetings of those who support equality, acts of civil disobedience, one-on-one talks with anyone and everyone involved on both sides of the issue, money (in this case my personal money) and most importantly - a desire to achieve the end result.

In all these areas, with this movement we are witnessing change before our eyes. In my silly costume I ask every week in the video project, How Many Voices Does it Take for Change to Take Place? Today I also ask - how much do those who want to see this change take place care to see the end result come to fruition and what else are you going to do to make it a reality?

Never forget: Florida is one of if not the most oppressive states in the United States. I can tell you from personal knowledge as a patient of health care institutions here in New York and in Florida that there is a marked difference in how health care is delivered in regard to cultural competence. In New York there are more inclusive questions on in-take forms, I am questioned less about my health care concerns that may indicate something about my culture (like I was at Orlando Health - not as an employee, but as a patient), there are more protections for non-white or non-Christian people like domestic partner benefits and diversity offices do an excellent job here of using the diversity of employees and patients as a tool to make the delivery of health care better.

It is always the case that oppressed people truly don't feel the oppression they are under until they are out from its stronghold. Then, and only then can they reflect back at how bad it really was and appreciate everything they did to get to the other side.

Keep getting people to stand up and fight Orlando Health's bigotry!

Thank you.

Alan L. Bounville

For My Grandmother...

I dedicate this video to my grandmother, Norma Glass, a white woman who was never afraid to sit on the back of the bus. Grandma - rest in peace.

Sign the petition today - www.tinyurl.com/ohdiversity - and please, tell everyone to do the same.

Thank you.

Alan L. Bounville

407-484-6671

alanbounville@gmail.com

PS Next week I will be sharing some disturbing emails I have received since this process began - and some from people you would not guess would be against receiving this information.

Thank you to University of Central Florida's SAFE Group

I would like to say thank you to the University of Central Florida's SAFE (Students Advocating for Equality) group for promoting this blog and the petition encouraging Orlando Health to be more culturally competent. Here is what they sent out to their members this week as part of their LGBTQ pride week agenda:

"All week:

Healthcare for GLBTQ people here in Orlando
Alan Bounville, an incredible activist here in our Orlando community, uses his voice each and every day to “break apart the ‘good ole boy’ network” at Orlando Health. Check out his blog and, if interested, sign the petition to support inclusion of LGBTQ diversity at Orlando Health.

Blog
www.ohdi.blogspot.com
Petition
www.tinyurl.com/ohdiversity"

Again - Asia Equality Russell and team - thanks!

Billy Manes Article on This Movement

From Orlando Weekly's Billy Manes:

Full article can be found at: http://www.orlandoweekly.com/columns/story.asp?id=13447

SIGN THE PETITION TODAY!

"Orlando Health – the parent company to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and the Winnie and Arnold Palmer health complexes, among others – has come under fire in recent months for not keeping up with times, or other local employers, by tiptoeing through the dicey terrain of diversity training. According to Alan Bounville, a “former Orlando Health team member and donor in good standing with the organization,” as the area’s fifth largest employer, Orlando Health should step up to the level of Disney and Universal in incorporating multicultural training into their employment rubric.

Following failed attempts to convince the corporate suits otherwise, Bounville has launched a petition campaign to pressure Orlando Health into being more PC. According to his e-mails, the organization currently ignores ethnicity training, forbids employees from forming discussion groups on diversity,does not protect gender identity for employees or patients, lacks domestic partner benefits, and, while it does boast a nondiscrimination policy for staff, it lacks the same in its patients’ bill of rights. Bounville’s quest has drawn endorsements from Equality Florida, OneOrlando.org and the Metropolitan Business Association; as of last week, the petition had garnered more than 100 signatures (although some on Bounville’s e-mail list are threatening legal action if they aren’t removed, something Bounville wouldlove). And nothing is happening.

On to Plan B, then. Bounville and company are threatening to crash a Sept. 26 block party celebrating the 20th anniversary of Arnold Palmer Medical Center and the 11th annual “Miracle Mile” runs preceding the party with picket signs, petitions and promotions.

The folks at Orlando Health have until Sept. 19 to come up with a “viable” plan and present it to both Bounville and the public. Then, and only then, will they be able to avoid the rhetorical posterboard and public humiliation that will make them feel less than human. Like their employees."

First Weekly Video 'Showing' the Growing Support

Here is the first video that recaps this movement to date and leads into my weekly commitment to 'show' the growing support for this movement.

Orlando Health - How many voices need to be heard for change to take place?

WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

VIEW VIDEO HERE:

You can also watch a bigger version of the video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw4ru8CN5PM

SIGN THE PETITION

SIGN THIS PETITION TO STOP ORGANIZATIONAL OPPRESSION AT ORLANDO HEALTH

Since Orlando Health ignored the call to action in the proposal presented to them as early as February, 2009, a petition was created to shame them into change.

Orlando Health wants voices to do what is right - we'll bring them voices.

Sign the petition TODAY.