Alert

Last week, whistleblower Vanessa Sivadge was illegally fired from her position as a nurse at Texas Children's Hospital!

Earlier this year, Vanessa, a former FRC intern and a TCH Nurse, blew the whistle that gender transition procedures for minors were being illegally performed and funded through Medicaid at Texas Children's Hospital. Before becoming a whistleblower herself, she had previously received a threatening visit from federal agents asking her to reveal the then-anonymous identity of Dr. Eithan Haim, another TCH whistleblower who initially revealed that the hospital was conducting these procedures on minors in violation of Texas state law.

Prior to blowing the whistle on these illegal procedures and Medicaid fraud, Vanessa had submitted a religious accommodation request to be transferred to another department so that she did not have to be involved in these procedures and violate her biblical beliefs. Her request was never granted, but that wasn't the end of the story.

Not only did Texas Children's Hospital ignore Vanessa's religious accommodation and transfer request, but after coming out as a whistleblower several weeks ago, she was fired this past Friday, August 16.

Employers can't legally retaliate against employees who exercise their rights under the U.S. Department of Labor's whistleblower protection laws, meaning Vanessa's termination this past Friday was illegal.

Historically, many doctors, upon graduating medical school, take an oath to do good to their patients and avoid doing harm, and yet there are doctors that violate this oath whenever they participate in these gender transition procedures on minors. But when Vanessa stood up to avoid doing harm and not violate her own conscience, she was punished for it.

Thankfully Vanessa is standing strong, saying she "would like to challenge this in court."

"My faith and my gut, just knowing right from wrong, compels me," she says. "I was born for this. I have no doubt this is what I am supposed to do."

Previously on Washington Watch, Vanessa credited her time as an intern with us at the Family Research Council for giving her a "spiritual backbone" and that her internship prepared her to do what was right. Vanessa has been harassed by FBI agents at her home simply because they "knew what she believed," and now she's lost her job for doing the right thing.

As Christians, now is the time to take a stand against this unlawful bullying. The radical Left has made it clear that they intend to do whatever they can to hurt godly people who stand up to their wicked agenda. That's why faithful Christians have to stand firm together, supporting and protecting each other from things like this.

FRC is calling upon fellow Christians across the country to join us by signing our petition to Texas Children's Hospital, demanding that Vanessa be reinstated.

Our goal is to gather as many signatures as possible from faithful Christians who are willing to take a stand for their sister in Christ. We will then deliver them to TCH.

We refuse to be silent when people are brazenly and illegally attacked because of their Christian faith. Vanessa has demonstrated her courage and fortitude in the face of everything that's been thrown at her. She needs our support.

Will you sign our petition to Texas Children's Hospital demanding Vanessa be reinstated? TCH cannot be allowed to get away with breaking the law. By signing our petition today, you'll let Texas Children's Hospital know that Vanessa is not alone and that thousands of Christians, concerned parents, and God-fearing Americans stand with her.

We, the undersigned, are outraged that Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) would illegally terminate the employment of Vanessa Sivadge for nothing more than exposing the truth of TCH's illegal practices.

Under Texas state law, these gender transition procedures are illegal for minors. Further, to abuse taxpayer-funded Medicaid for these procedures is a violation of public trust in TCH and furthers a harmful practice at taxpayer expense. In addition to violating Texas state law, TCH has also violated Sivadge's religious freedom by refusing to accommodate her objection to participating in procedures that go against biblical principles. Choosing to terminate Sivadge's employment for merely revealing illegal activity speaks volumes about Texas Children's Hospital's legal and moral integrity.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, as Christians, parents, and concerned members of the community, condemn the actions of Texas Children's Hospital, demand that you immediately reinstate Sivadge as a nurse, stop illegally performing these gender transition procedures on minors, and issue a formal apology for this egregious conduct.