We Did It!

A bill protecting us in long term care facilities (AKA: nursing homes, etc.) has passed and is heading to the governor to sign.

Amid CT GOP objection to ‘woke understanding,’ LGBTQ nursing home bill passes — without some protections

Requires cultural competency training for staff focused on LGBTQ+ individuals

Hartford Courant

By Livi Stanford

May 23, 2025

The fear includes having to hide who you are, if you become ill, or as you age in Connecticut.

Now, the state Senate passed legislation in a 26-10 vote that prohibits long-term care facilities and their staff from discriminating against residents including those in the LGBTQ+ community and also requires cultural competency training focused on residents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or gender nonconforming or are living with HIV.

“This bill is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that Connecticut remains a place where seniors feel safe and respected as they age,” said Sen. Jan Hochadel, D-Meriden in a statement. “No one should fear being treated differently or unfairly based on who they are. This law will send a clear message that everyone in Connecticut deserves dignity and compassion in their later years.”

Of course the Republicans are crying their mantra... DEI!... DEI!

Several Republicans cited concerns with the bill, particularly about how cases of discrimination would be adjudicated, with Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott, proposing an amendment to remove the DPH from the bill in being the final arbitrator of the penalties of facilities.

That amendment failed along party lines.

“The language that is included in here has an intent to politicize the notion of discrimination, almost like a DEI bill frankly,” said Sen. Rob Sampson R-Wolcott.

Oh no...! It almost seems like the Republicans think it is their god given right to discriminate. They want to strip of the bill it teeth to keep the LTC from discriminating.

“We have never lived in the closet and we do not ever intend to and it would be pretty awful if (Carol) would have to feel she would have to do that and if I visit her that we would feel like we would have to hide that we are together,” she said.

[...]

“I think this bill helps to ensure that at least there is training for staff about LGBTQ+ cultural issues,” she said. “I think the biggest concern is that we would not be comfortable if staff is not trained. We would not be comfortable to be out.”

Now imagine a trans person... how much worst it is for us. We cannot hide in closet.

“The biggest pushback was (questioning) why this certain group gets to have a special law made for them,” Shannon said, explaining that lawmakers could not get over that hump so they revised the language to include everyone.

Shannon said the bill is crucial, especially the training component. He said he has also heard about discrimination of LGBTQ+ individuals in long-term care facilities from Mairead Painter, the state’s long-term care ombudsman.

How many times have we heard from the conservatives about "Special Rights" when all we want to to have all the rights the straight cis-gender have... to live in peace without being harassed! 

“I have talked to couples who have had to go back in the closet effectively and are worried about what happens when one partner is in a facility and the other is visiting,” he said. “I have heard reports of trans folks [Yeah, from me.] being isolated by other residents and staff and I think in one case somebody actually left Connecticut and moved to a facility in New York City as a result of this. It is also a huge concern for same-sex couples where one partner needs to enter long-term care and (fear of discrimination) makes that decision difficult and complicated. There is palpable fear about how they might be treated.”

But what really gets me is,

“I have great concern when we turn too much power over to a commissioner,” he said. “We do not want discrimination. I got to be honest if I am dealing with some 85-year old woman that is in frail health and if she feels uncomfortable in a room because someone next to her is having a lifestyle choice that impedes and interferes with her quality of life, that is an interesting question. By this underlying bill we are saying we are always going to side with the person that is being overly expressive in asserting themselves in their sexual determinations.”

Lets stop and think for a second what Sen. John Kissel, (R- Enfield) said, So if their amendment passed that would mean... a trans person could be forced into isolation! If no one wants a trans roommate what happens to us? Would we be forced to live isolated in a room? Because that is what they really want... to isolate us!

---

I want to point out—sadly, there is no longer a trans organization that serves as a voice for our community. We now have to rely on our lesbian and gay allies to speak on our behalf. I don’t understand why the Board of Directors allowed the Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition (CTAC) to dissolve. We were the premier trans organization advocating for our community. Legislators came to us when they had questions—we were the resource. Now, only gays and lesbians are speaking for us.

Reading this article, I noticed that every quote comes from lesbian and gay individuals—not a single one from a trans person. But when you talk to trans people in long-term care (LTC), it’s us who bear the brunt of discrimination. We are out 24/7. We face shunning and social isolation. Yet, our voices weren’t represented.

CTAC had a seat on the Governor’s Advisory Council. We had representation on the legislative LGBTQ+ committee—but not anymore. We had a seat on the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, run by Mairead Painter, to ensure our voices were heard when shaping LTC policy—but again, not anymore.

We were training prison staff  —but again, not anymore. We were training homeless shelter staff —but again, not anymore. After a horrific incident in which a trans woman was thrown out of a men’s shelter at 11 PM on a night when temperatures were in the teens we helped her along with Connecticut Fair Housing Center to get her in a women's shelter. The male residents had been throwing things at her, and when she spoke up, she was the one thrown out—for being a “troublemaker.” Now, there is no one left to speak for her.

I still don’t know why I was forced to retire in 2022, but I do know this: they let the only trans  organization that Jerimarie and I built from the ground up die.