I have a story to tell you

[tavalon]

I have to be a bit vague because of HIPPA laws and I really want you to really focus, not on the couple but on the reaction of the auditorium of nurses who got told the happy tale, though it had already hit the grapevine and was not news to many of us.

A couple were about to have a baby. They intended to have a wedding the following week and then their child decided to make an attempt at an early entrance. Now, had this been a "normal" couple, it would only have necessitated that the male half of the heterosexual couple sign an affidavit of paternity and presto, the child would have two parents. Now if the couple in question were a lesbian couple and if they lived in a state that didn't allow them to marry or if it did, but their child made an early entrance, then the child would have to be adopted by the mother who didn't deliver the child. Many years ago, they couldn't even have adopted but that's not the point of this story either. The chaplain on call was called and he refused to do the ceremony, so a friend of one of the nurses said she knew someone who performed marriages. Mountains were moved, confetti was hung and cake and non alcoholic champagne magically appeared and the happy couple were married, in time for their child's slightly early arrival. Because of this above and beyond, the partner only had to sign an affidavit of, um, paternity or maternity or whatever - no adoption needed.

But here's the kicker. We were at a meeting for our four units at the hospital and the auditorium was almost full and as this story was told, circumspectly, as I said, for HIPPA reasons, there wasn't a unsmiling face there, and even a few tears and thunderous applause followed the story. Thunderous applause - linger and enjoy a moment. I'm not sure if we were applauding our fellow nurses, our wonderful state, this great couple or just progress!!!

The times they are slow to change, but they are a changing!

[Hekate]

1. 5th Rec. Off to the Greatest.

I love happy love stories -- weddings, babies, in any order at all.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. Fire the chaplain.

Best wedding I have ever been to was not delivered by a traditional minister. Ended with the line:

"By the power vested in me by the State of Washington, and the Almighty Internet..."

[tavalon]

5. The job of chaplain goes to a number of clergy folk - we had the misfortune of having a priest

that day. The priest had the right to refuse. I liked that the nurses just made an end run around him.

I like it even more that the whole auditorium was grinning ear to ear. That's the sea change we need.

Edited to add: All the laws in the world didn't change racism nor homophobia, but both are changed as people lose the ability to understand why racism or homophobia makes sense.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Well, that doesn't make it better, but it at least explains it.

Normally I expect a chaplain to at least ATTEMPT to serve all comers.

[Skittles]

3. it's HIPAA

ecellent story

[tavalon]

4. Ha, I do that all the time!