On July 18th, transgender woman Erin Vaught made a trip to the emergency room at Ball Memorial Hospital. She was coughing up blood and expected treatment for a lung condition.

Instead, she was ridiculed by hostpital staff, called names including "he-she" and "transvestite," and denied treatment.

Ball Memorial Hospital president Michael Haley responded to the incident, stating that the hospital is "committed to providing care with respect, dignity and courtesy."

But where was this respect, dignity, and courtesy when Vaught visited the hospital?

The hospital treated Vaught disrespectfully and inappropriately.

Please email Ball Memorial Hospital to demand that they stop discriminating against LGBT patients. The hospital should properly train its staff to prevent future discriminatory treatment of transgender patients.