Latest news with #HollySchepisi
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital questionnaire sparks outrage over newborn sexual orientation question
New parents in New Jersey are receiving shocking documents from a health network — and it is not the hospital bill. A form from Inspira Health went viral as it asks parents about their newborn's sexual orientation and gender identity. Now, Republican New Jersey State Sen. Holly Schepisi is introducing legislation to exempt minors from these types of questions. Schepisi — also a mother of two — told Fox News Digital that when she first saw the form being circulated on social media, she was "skeptical" because of the "outrageous" and "nonsensical" nature of the forms. However, her staff were able to confirm that the questionnaire was indeed real and was being distributed to new parents. Nyc Parents Outraged After Teacher Reads Gender Identity Book To Preschool Class Inspira Health's forms are meant to comply with a New Jersey law that requires the collection of data on patients' race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, according to Schepisi. Read On The Fox News App "The health network, in fairness to them, it was like 'We don't necessarily want to be providing these out. And we have received some pushback and backlash from patients.' But under the new law that was implemented in New Jersey in late June of 2022, the health network had a real belief that in order to be compliant with the law DOH [regulations], that they had to be all encompassing and include this, including for newborn patients," Schepisi told Fox News Digital. The law requires the collection be done "in a culturally competent and sensitive manner," which Schepisi said was "subjective." Hiding Kids' 'Gender Identity' From Parents Is Common In Blue State Fighting Trump On Trans Issues: Watchdog Schepisi thinks she will be able to get bipartisan support for her legislation that would create an exemption for minors in the state's medical records law. "Apparently, as drafted, as guidance was being provided, the interpretation by a lot of people, was that this data must be collected from all demographics without regard to age," Schepisi told Fox News Digital. This seems to be the case, as Inspira Health told Fox News Digital that the questionnaire is "required by New Jersey law and the State of New Jersey Department of Health." Inspira Health also said that parents are allowed to decline to provide this information. "Per recent guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health stating that health systems can collect that data in a clinically appropriate and culturally competent manner, Inspira Health will request this information from adults. This update in protocol remains compliant with the law, and we respect patients' right to decline to respond," Inspira Health said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Some healthcare workers are also finding the form to be preposterous, according to Schepisi, who said Assemblyman John Azzariti, a medical doctor, called it "absurd." Azzariti is sponsoring Schepisi's legislation in the Assembly. Schepisi also said the form was "not fair" to workers engaging with patients who are unhappy about the bizarre questionnaire. The state senator said she has spoken to some Democratic state legislators who were stunned to hear about the forms' existence. "I did have quite a few conversations over the past week bringing this issue to some of my Democratic colleagues' attention, and, you know, their response was pretty much the same as a lot of people out in the public, like, 'We're doing what?'" Schepisi pointed the finger at New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, saying that initiatives such as the collection of this data for medical records "stemmed directly from the governor's office." She also pointed out that the law went from introduction to the governor's desk in a week and a half, which she said is "unheard of." In response to a request for comment, the New Jersey Department of Health told Fox News Digital that "the Department stresses that any collection of SOGI data should be done in a clinically appropriate and culturally competent manner, including patient populations for which certain data may not be appropriate, as in the case for newborns. We also recommend that hospitals develop internal policies and procedures based on clinical advice to assist their employees in collecting such data."Original article source: Hospital questionnaire sparks outrage over newborn sexual orientation question
Fox News
19-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Hospital questionnaire sparks outrage over newborn sexual orientation question
New parents in New Jersey are receiving shocking documents from a health network — and it's not the hospital bill. A form from Inspira Health went viral as it asks parents about their newborn's sexual orientation and gender identity. Now, New Jersey State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-District 39), is introducing legislation to exempt minors from these types of questions. Schepisi — also a mother of two — told Fox News Digital that when she first saw the form being circulated on social media, she was "skeptical" because of the "outrageous" and "nonsensical" nature of the forms. However, her staff were able to confirm that the questionnaire was indeed real and was being distributed to new parents. Inspira Health's forms are meant to comply with a New Jersey law that requires the collection of data on patients' race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, according to Schepisi. "The health network, in fairness to them, it was like 'We don't necessarily want to be providing these out. And we have received some pushback and backlash from patients.' But under the new law that was implemented in New Jersey in late June of 2022, the health network had a real belief that in order to be compliant with the law DOH [regulations], that they had to be all encompassing and include this, including for newborn patients," Schepisi told Fox News Digital. The law requires the collection be done "in a culturally competent and sensitive manner," which Schepisi said was "subjective." Schepisi thinks she will be able to get bipartisan support for her legislation that would create an exemption for minors in the state's medical records law. "Apparently, as drafted, as guidance was being provided, the interpretation by a lot of people, was that this data must be collected from all demographics without regard to age," Schepisi told Fox News Digital. This seems to be the case, as Inspira Health told Fox News Digital that the questionnaire is "required by New Jersey law and the State of New Jersey Department of Health." Inspira Health also said that parents are allowed to decline to provide this information. "Per recent guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health stating that health systems can collect that data in a clinically appropriate and culturally competent manner, Inspira Health will request this information from adults. This update in protocol remains compliant with the law, and we respect patients' right to decline to respond," Inspira Health said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Some healthcare workers are also finding the form to be preposterous, according to Schepisi, who said Assemblyman John Azzariti, a medical doctor, called it "absurd." Azzariti is sponsoring Schepisi's legislation in the Assembly. Schepisi also said the form was "not fair" to workers engaging with patients who are unhappy about the bizarre questionnaire. The state senator says she has spoken to some Democratic state legislators who were stunned to hear about the forms' existence. "I did have quite a few conversations over the past week bringing this issue to some of my Democratic colleagues' attention, and, you know, their response was pretty much the same as a lot of people out in the public, like, 'We're doing what?'" Schepisi pointed the finger at New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, saying that initiatives such as the collection of this data for medical records "stemmed directly from the governor's office." She also pointed out that the law went from introduction to the governor's desk in a week and a half, which she said is "unheard of." In response to a request for comment, the New Jersey Department of Health told Fox News Digital that "the Department stresses that any collection of SOGI data should be done in a clinically appropriate and culturally competent manner, including patient populations for which certain data may not be appropriate, as in the case for newborns. We also recommend that hospitals develop internal policies and procedures based on clinical advice to assist their employees in collecting such data."
Telegraph
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
This insane story about ‘gay babies' proves that woke isn't dead
The next time someone blithely assures you that 'woke is over' now Donald Trump is back, politely direct his or her attention to the following story. In the US state of New Jersey, hospitals have been giving new parents a questionnaire to fill in. And this questionnaire asks them to specify their newborn baby's sexuality. Yes, you read that correctly. Holly Schepisi, a Republican member of the New Jersey Senate, has shared a photo of the questionnaire on her Facebook page, after getting her staff to confirm that it was real. And here, verbatim, is how the relevant question is phrased. 'Which of the following best describes your baby? Lesbian or gay; straight or heterosexual; bisexual; self-describes (please specify); questioning/unsure.' No matter how many times I reread the quoted passage, I still can't decide which aspect of it is the maddest. The idea that a newborn baby can be gay. The idea that parents might think their newborn baby is gay. The idea that a newborn baby can 'self-describe' anything, let alone his or her sexual orientation. Or the idea that a newborn baby is 'questioning' his or her sexual orientation – as if, while in the womb, the baby was convinced that he or she was heterosexual, but now, a couple of hours after being born, is starting to have second thoughts. Even if the baby does happen to be wrestling with such extraordinary notions, it's unclear how he or she would convey his or her conclusions. Coming out to your parents is hard enough for grown adults. So goodness only knows how a preverbal child is meant to manage it. Or perhaps the parents are just expected to guess. ('Our two-day-old son has yet to discuss his sexuality with us. But we have noted his passion for interior design and musical theatre.') For a moment, I wondered whether the questionnaire might actually be part of some ingenious sting operation by the FBI. Any time a grown man ticks a box suggesting he thinks that very small children have sexual preferences, undercover agents immediately leap out and arrest him. But no. It would appear that there is no such plan. In reality, the whole thing is probably just a wild misunderstanding. A spokesman for the healthcare provider behind the form said that asking such questions is now 'required by New Jersey law' – after local politicians decreed that healthcare providers must collect detailed demographic data about all their patients, including sexual orientation. I suspect that these politicians didn't have the sexual orientation of newborn babies in mind. None the less, this is how their law has been interpreted. Whatever the explanation, though, the farce doesn't end there. Because the questionnaire doesn't just ask about your baby's sexuality. It also asks about your baby's gender identity. Among the wide variety of possible answers listed on the form are 'male', 'female', 'genderqueer' – and, rather curiously, 'trans woman' and 'trans man'. In the context, surely it should be 'trans baby'. But then, if a man can identify as a woman and a woman as a man, I suppose there's no reason why a baby shouldn't identify as an adult. On the plus side, the spokesman for the healthcare provider did make clear that parents are entitled not to answer the questions, if they so wish. This must come as a relief not only to the parents, but to hospital staff. After all, new parents tend to be irritable enough as it is, what with all the sleep deprivation and stress. Ask them whether their baby son is a lesbian, and God knows what they might do. Make prisoners pay From slashing foreign aid to cutting benefit payments, Sir Keir Starmer has recently adopted an unexpectedly conservative approach to public spending. I don't know whether he's looking for further ways to ease the burden on the taxpayer. But if he is, I have a suggestion for him. He should pay a visit to the Clink Prison Museum in London. There he will learn the history of the Clink, a gruesome medieval prison which was in use from 1144 to 1780. I happened to visit it at the weekend. And, among many other fascinating facts, I learnt that prisoners were required to pay for their incarceration out of their own pockets. They had to pay for their bedding, lighting, heating, food, water. They even had to pay for their fetters and chains to be attached to them. And then, at the end of their sentence, they had to pay once again to have the fetters and chains removed. No doubt some Labour MPs would be hesitant to adopt such a policy today. They might venture to suggest that, in the 21st century, it would seem a touch draconian, and liable to meet with a certain amount of resistance from human rights lawyers. All the same, the Prime Minister should at least try putting it to focus groups. Because I have a funny feeling that it would poll quite well.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Parents asked if newborn babies identify as transgender
Parents are asked if their newborn babies identify as transgender on a form that is required under New Jersey state law, it has been claimed. A form distributed by several hospitals asks parents about their newborn baby's gender identity and sexual orientation. Lawmakers said that the form was not required to be filled out for patients so young, however, the group which represents the hospitals distributing the form insisted it was a legal requirement. The form asks parents a number of questions, including: 'Do you identify your baby as a transgender male/ trans man/ female to male', other options include 'genderqueer' or an 'additional gender category', and if the baby is lesbian or gay, heterosexual, 'self-describes' or is 'questioning/unsure'. The form was produced by Inspira Health, which operates four hospitals and eight health centres across the state, the New York Post reports. Inspira claims that it created the questionnaire to comply with a New Jersey law requiring healthcare providers to 'collect race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a culturally competent and sensitive manner'. The questions are intended to 'provide a safe and compassionate experience' and 'comply with recently-enacted state legislation', the form states. Republican State Senator Holly Schepisi told the Post: 'The entire thing lacks such common sense, and serves no purpose whatsoever. 'As a mom myself, I know you're exhausted after giving birth, you've got a crying newborn and you're trying to figure out how to feed it. To be handed that sort of form in the midst of all that has no medical value, it makes no sense.' She added that she would introduce a bill next week to revise New Jersey law to limit the data collection to patients aged over 16 years. However, Democrat Herbert Conaway, who worked on the bill, said that it was never intended to collect information about babies' sexual orientation. 'The bill was modelled after an Indiana statute and is designed to provide public health officials with the data they need to develop public health measures that effectively serve all New Jerseyans,' Mr Conaway said. 'Under the law, hospitals are required to collect and report demographic data on the patients they serve; however, no patient or parent is obligated to answer any question that makes them uncomfortable. He continued: 'Newborns are not subjected to this data collection because parents are not required to fill out the form. Many health decisions for newborns are left to the parents' discretion.' An Inspira Health spokesman said the questionnaire is 'required by New Jersey law' and noted parents 'are permitted to decline to provide this information'. He added that the company had sought a waiver from the state but that it had not been granted. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
17-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Parents asked if newborn babies identify as transgender
Parents are asked if their newborn babies identify as transgender on a form that is required under New Jersey state law, it has been claimed. A form distributed by several hospitals asks parents about their newborn baby's gender identity and sexual orientation. Lawmakers said that the form was not required to be filled out for patients so young, however, the group which represents the hospitals distributing the form insisted it was a legal requirement. The form asks parents a number of questions, including: 'Do you identify your baby as a transgender male/ trans man/ female to male', other options include 'genderqueer' or an 'additional gender category', and if the baby is lesbian or gay, heterosexual, 'self-describes' or is 'questioning/unsure'. The form was produced by Inspira Health, which operates four hospitals and eight health centres across the state, the New York Post reports. Inspira claims that it created the questionnaire to comply with a New Jersey law requiring healthcare providers to 'collect race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a culturally competent and sensitive manner'. The questions are intended to 'provide a safe and compassionate experience' and 'comply with recently-enacted state legislation', the form states. Republican State Senator Holly Schepisi told the Post: 'The entire thing lacks such common sense, and serves no purpose whatsoever. 'As a mom myself, I know you're exhausted after giving birth, you've got a crying newborn and you're trying to figure out how to feed it. To be handed that sort of form in the midst of all that has no medical value, it makes no sense.' She added that she would introduce a bill next week to revise New Jersey law to limit the data collection to patients aged over 16 years. 'No parent obligated to answer question' However, Democrat Herbert Conaway, who worked on the bill, said that it was never intended to collect information about babies' sexual orientation. 'The bill was modelled after an Indiana statute and is designed to provide public health officials with the data they need to develop public health measures that effectively serve all New Jerseyans,' Mr Conaway said. 'Under the law, hospitals are required to collect and report demographic data on the patients they serve; however, no patient or parent is obligated to answer any question that makes them uncomfortable. He continued: 'Newborns are not subjected to this data collection because parents are not required to fill out the form. Many health decisions for newborns are left to the parents' discretion.' An Inspira Health spokesman said the questionnaire is 'required by New Jersey law' and noted parents 'are permitted to decline to provide this information'. He added that the company had sought a waiver from the state but that it had not been granted.
