Augusta, GA – Governor Nathan Deal’s veto of HB 757, also called the Religious Freedom Bill, was felt in the CSRA as well as throughout the state of Georgia. Members of the LGBT community responded to the Gov. Deal’s decision as Augusta University kicked off its Come Out for Health Week. This week, March 28-April 1, health students and providers will educate the public on issues impacting the LGBT community regarding health.

The mounting pressure the Governor had from businesses has certainly brought the issues of the LGBT community to surface. Things like being called “it” instead of what they prefer to be identified as is one of the many issues within the walls of the doctor’s office.

Augusta Pride Director of Development James Mintz applauded the veto.

“I’m very happy that the veto took place today and I can feel more comfortable here in Georgia,” he said.

The doors of Peach State businesses are open to all after mounting pressure on Gov. Deal to sign or not sign the Religious Freedom bill.

“It was our creator who had endowed upon us unalienable rights. That is God had given us rights that included liberty, which embraced religious liberty,” Deal said during a press conference in Atlanta.

“His statement that the bill doesn’t reflect the character of Georgia and its people best represents how I feel,”Mintz said.

The bill followed party lines. State Representative Barry Fleming, of Harlem, said “I am very disappointed in this veto. America was made great because we protected the freedom of religion. I’m afraid we have traded that long term building block of our nation for the short term threats of economic bullying tactics.”

Now that the needs of the LGBT community have surfaced with the passing of gay marriage preceding businesses not having the bill to refuse customers, Augusta University kicked off ‘Come Out for Health’ week to spotlight disparities in the LGBT community.

Student Medical Assistant Hila Eichenbaum told News Channel 6, “This unique population has suffered a huge health disparity and not only that but they felt a tremendous amount of judgment very often coming from their healthcare providers and a lot of times that results in people just shutting down their healthcare.”

“They would like to be able to note their partner preference or rather than having to label like a spouse,” said Leah Kim, one of the coordinators of the week of events.

Panelists discussed several issues such as being called “it” and being turned away at the gynecologist’s office if they were transgender due to a lack of understanding. Patients on the panel also noted that there is a difference between gender and sexuality.

Kim added, “When you see a patient file it may say Stacy Miller or something like that, but really their preferred name is Cole or Mark and so it’s really easy to see the patient file and when you go to find the patient to bring them to the exam room you might say Mrs. so-and-so are you ready to come back with us and there’s just that awkward situation right away.”

There was also a Safe Zones Training Monday where they discussed proper terms to use in the LGBT community. Patient panelists discussed this too, noting that neutral pronouns such as they, them or there is preferred.

There’s also going to be a transgender health and mental health session later this week. That workshop is Not Deviant: LGBT Experiences in Mental Health Care, Thursday, March 31, University Hall Room 170, Summerville Campus.