National

HRC, Sebelius unveil report on medical facilities

Evaluating LGBT-friendliness of hospitals, other providers

Published

14 years ago

June 19, 2012

Chris Johnson

HRC President Chad Griffin unveils Healthcare Equality Index (Blade photo by Chris Johnson)

Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin and Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius unveiled HRC’s annual report evaluating the LGBT friendliness of medical facilities throughout the country at a media appearance Tuesday.

The two appeared together at a news conference at Howard University Medical Center — a facility that received a perfect score in the new report — to talk about the findings in HRC’s 2012 Healthcare Equality Index, which is the fifth such report from the organization.

Griffin said during the news conference that medical facilities shouldn’t deny a patient the ability to see a loved one — whether it’s a same-sex or opposite-sex partner — while visiting a hospital.

“At no time are we more vulnerable than when we’re lying on an emergency room gurney or in a hospital bed,” Griffin said. “It’s a scary time; not a time to be alone, and we desperately need our loved one by our side. And of course, that’s exactly where they want to be, not sitting in a waiting room feeling scared or helpless, or even worse, in a car racing home to find legal papers that prove our relationships while critical medical decisions are being made without us.”

Sebelius noted the Obama administration’s work on improving LGBT health, mentioning accomplishments such as the hospital visitation memorandum and a move to bar insurers from discriminating on the basis of LGBT status.

“A lot of these improvement don’t get the biggest press headlines, but they reflect how every day in dozens of small ways every agency and division in our department is working to make things better for LGBT individuals and families we serve,” Sebelius said.

This year’s index includes 407 respondents that volunteered to fill out a survey on key aspects of treatment of LGBT patients and staff, including patient non-discrimination policies, visitation polices, employment non-discrimination policies and training in LGBT patient-centered care.

The report saw a 40 percent increase in participating respondents from last year. Additionally, there were 237 facilities — a 162 percent increase — in facilities that received a perfect score and were dubbed a “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality.”

Wayne Frederick, Howard University provost and chief academic officer, said Howard University Hospital was “delighted” to be included among the facilities that received a perfect score in the index.

“Patient-centered care is a universal standard and is expected of all health care providers and health care institutions,” Frederick said. “It is a standard that is deserved by all people regardless of race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The D.C.-based Whitman-Walker Health also received a perfect score in the index and is the only non-hospital organization in the district to receive a perfect score in the report.

Don Blanchon, Whitman-Walker’s executive director, said he’s “excited and honored” his organization’s work has been recognized by HRC.

“Whitman-Walker was founded more than 30 years ago to offer high quality and affirming health care for metropolitan D.C.’s LGBT community at a time when that was almost non-existent,” Blanchon said. “We are very proud to not only be recognized but to join the company of other health care groups around the nation who are working to ensure equal access to high quality care.”

Although more facilities than ever volunteered to fill out the survey, 18 states aren’t represented: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Vermont and Connecticut.

On the same day that HRC issued its report, the Department of Health & Human Services issued its own annual report identifying seven key LGBT accomplishments in the past year as well as goals moving forward. Among them are the National Institutes of Health issuing a report identifying LGBT health gaps and opportunities; the Centers for Disease Control issuing data on domestic violence for LGBT couples; and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services making a training video about LGBT elder Americans.

Griffin emphasized the importance of health care equity by narrating his own story about making his first visit to the doctor after coming out as gay while living in Los Angeles and wanting to correct his patient record by saying he had previously incorrectly identified as straight.

“My doctor didn’t make me feel comfortable,” Griffin said. “He didn’t sort of have the answers to the questions and I didn’t feel comfortable, which is what I expected with my doctor. So, I left and I immediately changed doctors and got a doctor that was referred by friends, and I was very comfortable with being honest with that doctor and asking every question I had as a young person struggling to come out of the closet. That was so important and so helpful.”

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article said Whitman-Walker was the only non-hospital organization to receive a perfect score in the Healthcare Equality Index. It’s the only non-hospital organization in D.C., not the country. The Blade regrets the error.

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Arizona

Shooting outside gay bar in Ariz. leaves three dead

Tucson police investigating double murder-suicide as a hate crime

Published

3 hours ago

September 1, 2026

Joe Reberkenny

The shooting happened outside Venture-N bar in Tucson, Ariz. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

Three people were fatally shot outside a gay bar in Tucson, Ariz., early Monday morning, about a mile from the city’s nightlife district.

Police have said the shooting, which took place in the parking lot of Venture-N bar at 1239 N. 6th Ave., was likely a hate crime and a double murder-suicide following a verbal altercation.

The suspect, Ousman Ceesay, allegedly shot Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara while they were outside the club around 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Reports show Capara and Siqueiros were pronounced dead at the scene. Ceesay died after being taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds.

Police have also said that Ceesay was carrying a list of LGBTQ businesses at the time of the shooting.

Arizona Public Media has said police are investigating the case as a hate crime because the suspect was carrying a note containing the names of multiple LGBTQ-associated businesses.

“I am deeply saddened that another senseless loss of life has happened in our community,” Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto said in a statement. “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.”

According to Prieto, there is no imminent threat to the community, and the Tucson Police Department is working to provide extra protection to various LGBTQ businesses across town.

Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who represents the area, issued a statement condemning the act of violence, which appears to have been at least in part motivated by homophobia.

“I am disgusted and deeply saddened to learn of a targeted act of hate and the cold-blooded murder of two members of our LGBTQIA+ community, Vincent Siqueiros and Cameron Capara, at the Venture-N bar in Tucson last night. This horrific attack is a painful reminder that even in welcoming communities like Tucson, hate and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community still exist.”

“When that hate is combined with easy access to firearms, the consequences can be deadly. I am sick and tired of Congress refusing to lift a finger to protect our communities while, every day, dozens of people are shot and killed across the country. It does not have to be this way. The House of Representatives is returning to session this week, and our first action should be passing common-sense gun safety reforms that we know can save lives.”

Other federal lawmakers also condemned the shooting.

The Congressional Equality Caucus, which is made up of federal legislators advancing LGBTQ interests, issued a statement after news broke.

“Our hearts are with the friends and loved ones of the victims of this devastating attack outside a Tucson gay bar and with the Tucson LGBTQI+ community,” it said on X. “No one should fear violence because of who they are — and we’re going to continue fighting to build a world where no one does.”

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ organization in the country, released a statement following the shooting.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara and our hearts are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Tucson LGBTQ+ community. Once again, we are reminded that gun violence robs people of their lives, destroys families, and devastates communities.”

A candlelight vigil honoring the victims is planned for Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Catalina Park in North Tucson.

Congress

HRC president campaigns for Chris Pappas in NH

Gay congressman running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

Published

23 hours ago

August 31, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson, left, campaigns with U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in Manchester, N.H., on Aug. 30, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign)

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson on Sunday campaigned for U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in New Hampshire.

Robinson traveled to Manchester, the state’s largest city, nine days before the Sept. 8 primary that will determine who will vie for retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)’s seat.

We’re hitting the pavement across New Hampshire to fight for a freer, fairer future for everyone.

Glad to have Human Rights Campaign President @KelleyJRobinson join us for a canvass launch in Manchester today. pic.twitter.com/XWCEaQxy4o

— Chris Pappas (@ChrisPappasNH) August 30, 2026

Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate from 2003-2009, will face off against former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate from 2010-2013, in the Republican primary.

Karishma Manzur is among the Democrats challenging Pappas.

A poll the University of New Hampshire Survey Center released on Aug. 26 shows Sununu is ahead of Brown. The same survey shows Pappas ahead of Manzur and his other Democratic challengers.

The UNH Survey Center poll shows Sununu ahead of Pappas by a 45-43 percent margin if they were to face off in the general election. The margin of error is +/-2.1 percent.

Pappas would become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate if he were to win in November.

National

Milo Yiannopoulos deported to UK

ICE arrested far-right provocateur in New Orleans on Thursday

Published

4 days ago

August 28, 2026

Michael K. Lavers

Milo Yiannopoulos (Photo via Homeland Security @DHSgov/X account)

Editor’s note: The Department of Homeland Security on Saturday said Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported to the U.K.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday arrested far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.

A DHS spokesperson in a statement sent to the Washington Blade said ICE arrested Yiannopoulos, who they described as “an illegal alien from the United Kingdom,” at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

The DHS spokesperson said Yiannopoulos “legally entered the country” in New York on May 14, 2019.

“He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws,” said the spokesperson.

The DHS spokesperson said an immigration judge on July 22 “issued a final order of removal” for Yiannopoulos “after failing to show up for his immigration hearing.” The Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans on Friday reported Yiannopoulos is being held at an ICE detention center in Alexandria, La., which is about 200 miles northwest of the Crescent City.

“He will remain in ICE custody pending removal,” said the DHS spokesperson.

Yiannopoulos has, among other things, repeatedly targeted transgender people and Muslims.

The American Conservative Union, which organizes the annual Conversative Political Action Conference, in 2017 disinvited Yiannopoulos from speaking at that year’s CPAC after a video in which he appeared to condone sex between adults and underage boys emerged. Yiannopoulos subsequently resigned from Breitbart News, a far-right news website, where he had been a senior editor.

Yiannopoulos later that year married his boyfriend in Hawaii. The far-right provocateur in 2021 claimed he was an “ex-gay.”

The Australian government in 2019 banned Yiannopoulos from entering the country “on character grounds.” Yiannopoulos was also banned from Facebook, Twitter (now X), and other social media platforms.

**Milo Yiannopoulos** speaks at a “Gays for Trump” event during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The Times-Picayune reported Yiannopoulos “most recently worked for” Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.

The controversial rapper is scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday.

Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who is close to President Donald Trump, has called for Yiannopoulos’s deportation. Loomer on Friday wrote on X that she “reported him to ICE and the FBI” after he “called for me to be assassinated.”