{"id":1734,"date":"2017-07-27T14:16:39","date_gmt":"2017-07-27T18:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/veterans\/?p=1734"},"modified":"2024-02-13T08:34:05","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T13:34:05","slug":"bay-pines-va-healthcare-lgbt-observance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/veterans\/bay-pines-va-healthcare-lgbt-observance\/","title":{"rendered":"Bay Pines VA Healthcare LGBT Observance"},"content":{"rendered":"

BAY PINES, FL \u2013<\/strong> \u201cViva La Vida! Live the Life!\u201d was the theme of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System’s annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) observance last month at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

More than 150 VA employees, Veterans, family members, and Tampa Bay residents attended the event to recognize and celebrate diversity and LGBT health care equality.<\/p>\n

Click here to watch the full video story.<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBay Pines is committed to having the best cultural competency staff to serve our Veterans,\u201d said Tanya Wieck, EEO Manger and Civil Rights Officer, Bay Pines VAHCS.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is what these programs are about\u2026serving each other and understanding and respecting what we all bring to each other,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In addition to guest speakers and learning activities, the event featured a discussion panel comprised of leaders from various organizations to include St. Pete Pride<\/u><\/a>, Equality Florida<\/u><\/a>, the Tampa Bay Rays<\/u><\/a>, Metro Wellness<\/u><\/a>, and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). <\/u><\/a>The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Edward Briggs, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and Bay Pines VA Special Emphasis Co-Chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are really taking an extra step to have events like this to make it very clear to Veterans that we serve all who served, that we\u2019re here for everyone, and that we really want to know what their needs are so we can meet those needs,\u201d said Briggs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not doing this from a profit motivation, or for some motivation for an award or something, we are doing it because we really care,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Panelist Todd Richardson of Equality Florida served in the U.S. Air Force in the 1980s. For the first time in a public setting, he shared his personal story of being a gay man in the military during \u201cDon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell\u201d – the official United States policy on military service by gays, bisexuals, and lesbians that lasted from 1994 to 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cBay Pines is doing a great job pulling our community together and being a good community partner with others to help promote a positive message about the LGBT community,\u201d Richardson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that what I said today gives others a chance to come forward and to be treated and talk to people and counselors here at Bay Pines who experienced the same things that I did because there is help out there for people who need it.<\/p>\n

In March, Bay Pines was designated as a \u201cLeader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality\u201d for the fifth straight year by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the nation\u2019s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization. The designation was reported in the 10th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), reflecting on a decade of progress in LGBTQ health care.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Bay Pines VA\u2019s commitment to health care equality and future special events and celebrations, please visit www.baypines.va.gov<\/u><\/a> or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.<\/p>\n

MEDIA CONTACT:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jason W. Dangel Public Affairs Officer Bay Pines VA Healthcare System 727.398.9531 | jason.dangel@va.gov<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BAY PINES, FL \u2013 \u201cViva La Vida! Live the Life!\u201d was the theme of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System’s annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) observance last month at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center. More than 150 VA employees, Veterans, family members, and Tampa Bay residents attended the event to recognize and … Continue reading Bay Pines VA Healthcare LGBT Observance<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[11],"class_list":["post-1734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\nBay Pines VA Healthcare LGBT Observance - Veterans Services<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/veterans\/bay-pines-va-healthcare-lgbt-observance\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bay Pines VA Healthcare LGBT Observance - Veterans Services\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"BAY PINES, FL \u2013 \u201cViva La Vida! 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