Some Employees Oppose New Transgender Policy At Forbes Hospital
MONROEVILLE (KDKA) -- There some dissent over a policy at Forbes Hospital that is now allowing a transgender employee to use the women's facilities.
Last week, employees at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville were advised that a transgendered female, who works for the hospital, has been authorized to use the women's bathrooms and locker room.
The employee reportedly had been offered a private area, but felt she would be isolated.
"There are people who are not allowed to rent or buy a house or an apartment because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender," said Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine. "There are people who are denied employment because of that fact, so it's really important to have legislation."
In a statement, Allegheny Health Network said: "We are an equal opportunity employer that respects the rights of all individuals. With respect to transgender individuals accessing specific bathrooms or locker room facilities on our hospital campuses, we make decisions intended to respect the rights of all employees impacted, while complying with all applicable laws."
Allegheny Health Network made a corporate decision, but state Rep. Dan Frankel would like to see state law enacted that would cover housing, employment and public facilities.
"We believe that other states have moved forward in this area," said Rep. Frankel. "Nineteen other states have comprehensive civil rights protections for the LGBT community."
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A vote in the state most likely won't happen until next year. But it's a hot button topic that will no doubt be hotly debated.
"People deserve equal protections under the law. I feel, as a trans-identified individual, that we deserve the same rights as all individuals," said Sharon Cook, of Philadelphia.
But, according to sources, some of the female employees at the Monroeville location aren't happy about it.