In celebration of National Pride Month which begins on June 1st, today at Noon Clara Maass Medical Center along with its community partners the Bloomfield Pride Committee and North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI) raised a rainbow-colored flag at the top of the hospital. The flag will be flown for the entire month of June.
A brief ceremony, which included remarks from Mary Ellen Clyne, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Clara Maass Medical Center and Desyra Highsmith Holcomb, Director of Diversity and Inclusion highlighted the hospital’s work to create a respectful, caring and compassionate environment at the Medical Center and to meet the special health care needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) community.
In addition, Wilfredo M. Yap Jr., Director of the Emergency Department and Observation Units shared reflections on the Stonewall Inn Uprising, the catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States – which occurred 50 years ago in New York City. The Mayor of Belleville, Michael Melham expressed appreciation to Clara Maass for its commitment to diversity and to serving the health care needs of Belleville and its surrounding communities.
Following the flag raising a reception featuring rainbow-themed cookies and lemonade was held around the fountain.
In 2018, the Medical Center earned a national designation in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
