Lynn Sprout scored a major victory in her case against the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Ill. More than two and a half years after being dismissed from the hospital, the Urbana Human Relations Committee ruled last week that Sprout’s firing was discriminatory and based on her sexual orientation. Sprout, a pediatric nurse and manager at the hospital, was let go in March, 2002 because of what Carle officials termed performance problems.
Sprout argued that the hospital violated City of Urbana codes by not providing her with coverage and bereavement leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act and by ending her employment. She said that she was fired after revealing her homosexuality to a co-worker and taking time off to care for her then-life partner, who was suffering from terminal cancer.
Several organizations rallied around Sprout throughout the trial. Among them were the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network and The 85% Coalition, a direct action group for the civil rights of Illinois’ GLBT citizens.