Is your baby straight or gay? N.J. hospitals hand out controversial forms to new moms

[John Smyth]

This is fucking idiotic!
"Is your baby straight or gay? N.J. hospitals hand out controversial
forms to new moms"

<https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/03/mom-shocked-and-disgusted-by-nj-hospital-form-asking-babys-sexual-orientation.html>

'At the height of the pandemic when COVID-19 was taking a heavier toll
on Black people, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law that required hospitals
and labs in New Jersey to collect more detailed demographic information
on its patients.

Four years later, the law has taken a surprising turn. Hospitals are
handing out forms asking pregnant and post-partum mothers the gender
identity and sexual orientation of their babies, according to a patient
in South Jersey.

“What sex was your baby assigned at birth?”

“Which of the following best describes your baby? Lesbian or gay;
straight or heterosexual, bisexual, questioning/unsure, prefer not to
answer.”

The form from Inspira Health explains the questions are required under
state law, and to help the hospital fulfill its mission “to provide a
safe and compassionate experience.”

The 2021 law required medical professionals to ask patients not only
about their race and ethnicity, but their gender identity and sexual
orientation, as well. Patient participation is voluntary.

Lillie Mingle said when she received the form in a packet from the
hospital, “I was shocked, and then disgust set in. Regardless on my own
personal beliefs, the language used alone was very troubling.”

Mingle posted the form on social media, which got responses from other
mothers who said they had received a similar questionnaire while at
other hospitals not affiliated with Inspira.

State Sen. Holly Schepisi, R-Bergen, got wind of the chatter and
investigated. On Friday, she said she was drafting legislation that
would amend the law to introduce some “common sense.”

“I understand why for certain populations, this information could be
helpful for finding appropriate care in the event someone is trans, gay,
bisexual,” Schepisi said.

“But this is not a common sense approach. Having to ask if a newborn
child is gay is just stupid,” she said.

A spokesman for Inspira Health, which operates four hospitals in
Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, said the health system was
just following the law.

“Inspira Health, along with every other acute care hospital in New
Jersey, is required by New Jersey law and the State of New Jersey
Department of Health to request their patients provide their race,
ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity,” spokesman Paul Simon
said. “Patients are permitted to decline to provide this information.”

A spokeswoman for the state Health Department confirmed that health
facilities are required to gather this demographic data from their
patients. But they do have some leeway on how they do it.

“The Department stresses that any collection of sexual orientation,
gender identity 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,” state
spokeswoman Dalya Ewais said. “We also recommend that hospitals develop
internal policies and procedures based on clinical advice to assist
their employees in collecting such data.”

Schepisi said she’s heard from hospital officials who have asked the
state health department for a waiver from having to pose these questions
under these circumstances. She said her goal is to clarify what’s
required.

She’s speaking to pediatricians to find out what is the appropriate age
to consider a child’s gender and sexual identity. But clearly newborns,
toddlers and kindergartners should not be targeted, Schepisi said.

“Mandating that parents identify the sexual orientation and gender
identity of their newborn child is an absurd waste of medical
professionals’ time and resources,” Schepisi said. “This form serves no
practical medical purpose for the care of a newborn baby. My legislation
would rescind this ridiculous mandate passed by Trenton Democrats.”

Mingle, who is in the third trimester of her pregnancy, said she doesn’t
have a problem with the hospital staff.

“I want to be clear— no one is angry at the nurses doing their jobs.
They are told by higher ups what is mandatory and unfortunately they do
not have a voice to oppose," she said.

Still, none of this makes sense, she said, adding the hospital has never
asked her to fill out the questionnaire on her own behalf'

[pothead]

Post by John Smyth
This is fucking idiotic!
"Is your baby straight or gay? N.J. hospitals hand out controversial
forms to new moms"
<https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/03/mom-shocked-and-disgusted-by-nj-hospital-form-asking-babys-sexual-orientation.html>
'At the height of the pandemic when COVID-19 was taking a heavier toll
on Black people, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law that required hospitals
and labs in New JersSTOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Battery cell maker Northvolt has filed for bankruptcy in Sweden, the company said on Wednesday, marking one of the country's largest corporate failures and effectively ending Europe's best hope of developing a rival to challenge China.

...

FILE PHOTO: A view of the Northvolt Ett factory in Skelleftea, Sweden, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Marie Mannes/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the Northvolt Ett factory in Skelleftea, Sweden, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Marie Mannes/File Photo
© Thomson Reuters
"This was a decision we did not take lightly" and it was the only "realistic path forward," Northvolt Chairman Tom Johnstone told a press conference, saying every avenue had been pursued to avoid bankruptcy for the company, which puts 5,000 jobs at risk.

Northvault, the Swedish battery cell maker for electric vehicles, said
Current Time 0:01
/
Duration 1:20
Reuters
Swedish battery maker Northvolt files for bankruptcy as cash runs out
0
View on Watch
View on Watch
The EV battery maker sought U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November as its cash pile dwindled and it scrambled to secure funds to fix problems in boosting output at its flagship plant in northern Sweden.

Its debt stood just over $8 billion across the Northvolt entities entering bankruptcy, U.S. chapter 11 documents showed.

The bankruptcy is one of the biggest in Swedish corporate history and the most high-profile since carmaker Saab Automobile more than a decade ago.

Europe's auto sector had hoped Northvolt would reduce Western carmakers' reliance on Chinese rivals such as battery maker CATL and EV and battery maker BYD.

'A LOT GONE WRONG'

"It's obvious that a lot has gone wrong, and the price is now being paid by our members," Marie Nilsson, leader of the IF Metall union said in a statement.

The Swedish company has received more than $10 billion in equity, debt and public financing since its 2016 inception, and its biggest owners include Volkswagen with a 21% stake, and Goldman Sachs, with 19%.

Northvolt's operations in North America and Germany were not filing for bankruptcy in their jurisdictions, the company said, and neither was its Polish unit, an internal document showed.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said he hoped Northvolt might still be rescued by an investor who could secure the future of its planned German plant. "The possibility definitely exists," he said.

The bankruptcy will impact Northvolt's flagship plant in Skelleftea in northern Sweden, where a green industry boom had created thousands of jobs, many of which were now in jeopardy.

"It is important to emphasize that what is now affecting Skelleftea in the short term will affect Sweden and Europe much more severely," Skelleftea Mayor Lorents Burman said, calling for government support to safeguard battery-making expertise.

Northvolt last year clinched a $5 billion green loan deal to expand a plant, but funding was cancelled as its problems mounted, including raising output at its Skelleftea factory.

Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch said the government stood ready to support Northvolt employees, and she hoped "the business will be able to find a new long-term owner".

Porsche, which had supply contracts with Northvolt, said it had begun searching for alternatives after news of the bankruptcy filing.

Volkswagen said it remained in contact with Northvolt but declined to comment further on the bankruptcy.

Several shareholders have in recent months written down the value of their Northvolt stakes to zero, while long-time partner Scania said it had lined up a new supply of battery cells.

German carmaker BMW cancelled a $2 billion order in June after Northvolt failed to deliver on a long-term contract.

LOSS FOR SWEDISH INDUSTRY

Co-founder Peter Carlsson, who stepped down as Northvolt CEO shortly after the Chapter 11 filing in November, has said the company needed up to $1.2 billion to restore its business.

"What ultimately forced the board to take this decision last night was that it did not see a solution to the short term liquidity need," Carlsson told reporters on Wednesday.

Creditors include both private and public investors.

The bankruptcy was "a loss for Sweden's industry and social economy, and above all for Skelleftea, Northvolt and its employees," said Jenny Askfelt Ruud, who chairs 4 to 1 Investments which has invested 5.8 billion Swedish crowns ($578 million) in Northvolt shares and convertibles.

A court-appointed trustee will oversee the bankruptcy process, which will include the sale of Northvolt's assets and settling its outstanding obligations as far as possibleey to collect more detailed demographic information

Post by John Smyth
on its patients.
Four years later, the law has taken a surprising turn. Hospitals are
handing out forms asking pregnant and post-partum mothers the gender
identity and sexual orientation of their babies, according to a patient
in South Jersey.
“What sex was your baby assigned at birth?”
“Which of the following best describes your baby? Lesbian or gay;
straight or heterosexual, bisexual, questioning/unsure, prefer not to
answer.”
The form from Inspira Health explains the questions are required under
state law, and to help the hospital fulfill its mission “to provide a
safe and compassionate experience.”
The 2021 law required medical professionals to ask patients not only
about their race and ethnicity, but their gender identity and sexual
orientation, as well. Patient participation is voluntary.
Lillie Mingle said when she received the form in a packet from the
hospital, “I was shocked, and then disgust set in. Regardless on my own
personal beliefs, the language used alone was very troubling.”
Mingle posted the form on social media, which got responses from other
mothers who said they had received a similar questionnaire while at
other hospitals not affiliated with Inspira.
State Sen. Holly Schepisi, R-Bergen, got wind of the chatter and
investigated. On Friday, she said she was drafting legislation that
would amend the law to introduce some “common sense.”
“I understand why for certain populations, this information could be
helpful for finding appropriate care in the event someone is trans, gay,
bisexual,” Schepisi said.
“But this is not a common sense approach. Having to ask if a newborn
child is gay is just stupid,” she said.
A spokesman for Inspira Health, which operates four hospitals in
Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties, said the health system was
just following the law.
“Inspira Health, along with every other acute care hospital in New
Jersey, is required by New Jersey law and the State of New Jersey
Department of Health to request their patients provide their race,
ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity,” spokesman Paul Simon
said. “Patients are permitted to decline to provide this information.”
A spokeswoman for the state Health Department confirmed that health
facilities are required to gather this demographic data from their
patients. But they do have some leeway on how they do it.
“The Department stresses that any collection of sexual orientation,
gender identity 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,” state
spokeswoman Dalya Ewais said. “We also recommend that hospitals develop
internal policies and procedures based on clinical advice to assist
their employees in collecting such data.”
Schepisi said she’s heard from hospital officials who have asked the
state health department for a waiver from having to pose these questions
under these circumstances. She said her goal is to clarify what’s
required.
She’s speaking to pediatricians to find out what is the appropriate age
to consider a child’s gender and sexual identity. But clearly newborns,
toddlers and kindergartners should not be targeted, Schepisi said.
“Mandating that parents identify the sexual orientation and gender
identity of their newborn child is an absurd waste of medical
professionals’ time and resources,” Schepisi said. “This form serves no
practical medical purpose for the care of a newborn baby. My legislation
would rescind this ridiculous mandate passed by Trenton Democrats.”
Mingle, who is in the third trimester of her pregnancy, said she doesn’t
have a problem with the hospital staff.
“I want to be clear— no one is angry at the nurses doing their jobs.
They are told by higher ups what is mandatory and unfortunately they do
not have a voice to oppose," she said.
Still, none of this makes sense, she said, adding the hospital has never
asked her to fill out the questionnaire on her own behalf'

...

These people are mentally ill.
Seriously.