5,000 Join Lesbian Marine Veteran in Demanding Dallas VA Fire Homophobic Nurse

It's been a little more than a month since the repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy went into full effect. But even though the ban barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military is gone, that doesn't mean bigotry and intolerance have left with it.

Just ask Marine veteran Esther Garatie.

According to a report in the Dallas Voice, former Marine lance corporal Esther Garatie, 28, went to the Dallas VA Medical Center on October 12 to “seek treatment for severe depression and possible post-traumatic stress disorder — including thoughts of suicide.” Garatie, who was wounded and Honorably Discharged from the Marines, claims that nurse practitioner Lincy Pandithurai told her that the reason she was depressed and contemplating suicide was because she is a lesbian.

“She sat down and looked at me, and her first question was, ‘Are you a lesbian?’” Garatie wrote in a personal statement written one day after the incident and published by the Voice. “Her second question to me was, ‘Have you asked God into your heart? Have you been saved by Jesus Christ?’ This is when I realized that I was no longer a United States veteran in her eyes, I was just a homosexual.”

Immediately after the event, Esther sought the advice of her friend Jessica Gerson, a MSW candidate at Tulane University, who launched a campaign on Change.org to support the veteran. Within hours, Jessica had recruited hundreds of supporters on Change.org, the world’s fastest growing platform for social change.

“As soon as I heard from Esther, I knew I had to help,” said Gerson. “Nurse Pandithurai should be fired from the Dallas VA Medical Center and have her license revoked by the Texas Board of Nursing. This isn’t just about supporting Esther – it’s about starting a dialogue. Esther’s case is a powerful example of abuses that still occur with disturbing regularity to our brave LGBT service men and women.”

Jessica believes that if enough people demand that the Dallas VA Medical Center to investigate the nurse who harassed Esther, she could be forced from her job. More than 5,000 people have already signed the petition.

Garatie has since filed official complaints with the VA Medical Center and the Texas Board of Nursing against the nurse practitioner. Penny Kerby, a spokeswoman for the VA Medical Center, confirmed to the Dallas Voice that Garatie’s complaint is under investigation.

“VA North Texas Health Care System does not tolerate discrimination on any level and takes any allegation of such behavior seriously,” Kerby said in a statement. “Each employee who interacts with every veteran patient is expected to demonstrate our core values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence. This allegation is being investigated and if substantiated, appropriate measures will be taken to address the issue.”

You can read more and sign in support of this veteran here: http://www.change.org/petitions/dallas-va-medical-center-fire-homophobic-nurse-for-harassing-lesbian-marine-veteran