Bridge Travels on the Journey: bigotry

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Obamacare Survives

"In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court saved the controversial health care law that will define President Barack Obama's administration for generations to come.

The ruling holds that the Affordable Care Act authorized federal tax credits for eligible Americans living not only in states with their own exchanges but also in the 34 states with federal marketplaces. It staved off a major political showdown and a mad scramble in states that would have needed to act to prevent millions from losing health care coverage."

This is great news! Especially for LGBT families where coverage and inclusion are not guaranteed. Due to this ruling, we are not only able to secure adequate medical and Rx coverage, but our health care can be more protected legally. Meaning, if one of us is ill or cannot speak for ourselves--hopefully our union is more likely to be honored by health care providers. PLUS, our spot at one another's bedside will not be usurped. (read more through this link...)

People talk a lot about "why Obamacare is not a good idea." However, I remember the years before the Affordable Care Act. My spouse was denied due to mental health issues. I was denied because my BMI was higher than "ideal." "Fortunately" at that time I owned my own business and was able to construct a "group insurance plan" through my LLC. But, make no mistake about it, the plan was much more costly than any plan I have read about through the Affordable Care Act (or through previous employers), and was substandard in coverage and reimbursement. So, I don't know what all the naysayers are upset about.

I am just thankful today that we are getting all our ducks in a row at this time to take care of our union and protect our "rights."

Thursday, May 26, 2011

ignorance is bliss

... or at least it is for the unaware, unconscious, uncouth and unenlightened.
Yesterday at work a group of employees in another department started holding forth at a volume hard to ignore. Their topic for the day was unbelievably uneducated opinions about religion and the rapture. I just sat there shaking my head. For two reasons. One, generally talking about religion in the secular workplace is a no-no. Two, I have never heard such wacky opinions about "the rapture." Understandably this was a popular topic after that guy mispronounced the "rapture and end of the world" last Saturday (of course, now that it did not come true, he has changed is date). But, I had to let it go because, unlike the kids in that department, the adults in my department had work to do and interventions to make.
Then today at work the same employees in that other department started loudly expressing their misinformed and misguided opinions about gay people as "fact." Some of the low-lights included: "people are gay as a result of their environment," and "I know there are a lot of kids that need homes but gays shouldn't adopt." My ire was a rising... especially compounded after yesterday. I could not believe that such ignorance is still so pervasive... especially among the under 30 crowd. (This group has also offered their toxic teachings on political party issues and abortion -- doesn't seem to just be an isolated incident or two).
Again, I had too much work to perform to attempt an intervention with those half dozen people in an attempt to enlighten and edify them. I did, however, let the management know that a group of employees were creating a "hostile work environment" with their bullhorn level discussions on loaded topics. We'll have to see what happens.