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News :: Civil & Human Rights |
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Carle Foundation Hospital Guilty of Discrimination For Firing Lesbian Nurse Lynn Sprout |
Current rating: 0 |
by kakranich
Email: kakranich (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified!) |
22 Nov 2004
Modified: 08:01:26 AM |
The Urbana Human Relations Commission ruled on November 17 that Carle Foundation Hospital violated the city of Urbana’s Human Rights Ordinance when it unlawfully
fired nurse manager Lynn Sprout on the basis of her sexual orientation after she came out as lesbian while caring for her dying same-sex partner of 18 years. |
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Ms. Sprout was a nurse in pediatrics at Carle
Foundation Hospital for 15 years, three as nurse manager, before she was fired in 2002.
She filed a complaint with the Urbana Human Relations Commission and Commissioners started to hear her case last June.
Just before the hearing began, Ms. Sprout refused a $35,000 settlement from Carle that would have prevented her from ever talking about the case.
Ms. Sprout and the 85% Coalition, a direct action grassroots group of local citizens who demand full equality for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered persons, will hold a press conference on Tuesday, November 23 at 2:00pm at the law offices of
Nally, Bauer, Feinen & Bullock, 41 E. University Ave., Suite 2A in Champaign. Copies of the Commissioner’s
full and final report will be available then.
“We’re extremely happy with the decision, “ Sprout said. “My battle underscores the need for a statewide bill that protects lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people in every city in
Illinois from discrimination. Right now, only a few cities in Illinois outlaw employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender discrimination. That’s wrong. And the fair people of Illinois agree with me.”
A bill is before the Illinois House (HB 101) and Senate (SB 3186) that would amend the Human Rights Act of Illinois to include sexual orientation and gender identity thereby making such discrimination in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations illegal throughout the state. Activists have been trying to get such a bill passed for more than 30 years.
Urbana and Champaign passed laws outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation back in the mid-1970s. Ms. Sprout’s complaint is the first complaint based on sexual orientation heard before the
Urbana Human Relations Commission.
The Commissioners heard more than thirty hours of testimony over three months. Next month the Commissioners will determine the penalty Carle must pay for discriminating against Ms. Sprout. Ms. Sprout has wanted three things since she was fired unfairly
by the hospital: her job back, back pay, and a change in the hospital’s policy that would allow employees with same-sex domestic partners to take leave from work to care for an ill or dying partner or to attend a partner’s funeral without fear of losing one’s job.
Carle Foundation hospital is expected to appeal the decision. An appeal will be heard in Circuit Court. The circuit court judge is not to try the case again but to determine whether the Commissioners heard the case
properly.
For background information on Lynn Sprout vs. Carle Foundation Hospital, see links at end of article. |
See also:
http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display_any/14120
http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display_any/18490
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This work is in the public domain |
