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Fulton State Hospital's non-discrimination policy includes gender identification

Fulton State Hospital.
Mo. Dept. of Mental Health
Fulton State Hospital.

Missouri's only state-run mental hospital has updated its non-discrimination practices to include gender identity.

That's despite the fact that Missouri's legal definition of discrimination does not include or protect sexual orientation or sexual identity.

Marty Martin-Forman is chief operating officer for Fulton State Hospital. She says their transgender patients provided the inspiration to make internal policy changes.

"The issue of transgender is one of those that we've educated ourselves on," Martin-Forman said, "and that primarily began because we have clients we treat that have transgender issues."

Fulton State Hospital.
Credit Mo. Dept. of Mental Health
Fulton State Hospital.

She also credits the hospital's cultural competence council for providing a series of educational events regarding theLGBTcommunity.

"For example, we have new training right now that talks about what name (a transgender person) would like to use, versus what name is their official name in the chart, and what can we do for clinicians to help them when they're charting and when they're speaking to individuals about being respectful," she said.

Martin-Forman added that the new policy also extends to any transgender employees who may work at Fulton State Hospital.

The moves are being praised by PROMO, which advocates for Missouri's LGBT community.

"As a state-run facility, Fulton State Hospital has gone above and beyond state law to ensure all of its patients and employees are protected from discrimination," said PROMO's Andrew Shaughnessy.  "In doing so, FSH created a welcoming facility where LGBT Missourians can seek care and work, without the fear of discrimination."

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

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Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.
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