Justice for Courtney: End Discrimination in Healthcare NOW.
Courtney Taylor, a 33-year-old transgender woman, became a quadriplegic after being hit by a car. Despite having full health insurance, she was subjected to nine months of medical neglect at UCI Lakewood: untreated stage 4 pressure wounds, no physical rehabilitation or mental health care, repeated misgendering in her medical records.
Over 300 long-term care facilities in LA County refused to admit her not because of her medical condition, but because she is transgender. This is discrimination in its clearest form.
UCI Lakewood illegally discharged her to unlicensed boarding homes, where her life was again put at risk. What happened here was not just neglect, but a denial of her civil rights.
Thanks to the intervention of Holy Cross Hospital, Courtney survived. But this crisis is not over. A lawsuit is moving forward, arrests are imminent, and we are demanding action from state leaders.
Courtney Taylor before accident (left, middle) and after accident (right).
Why Courtney’s Story Matters
Courtney needed urgent wound care, physical rehabilitation, and mental health support. Care that any patient in her condition should have received without question.
Instead, she was left untreated for months and labeled a “difficult placement.” In her medical records, case managers documented “Barrier: Transgender. Difficult placement.” One facility even refused her, noting she would need a private room “due to sexual preference.” These facilities declined to admit her, despite her medical condition, because she is transgender. Fear and stigma overrode medical duty, putting her life at risk.
Her story exposes the reality: when discrimination enters healthcare, it strips people of their humanity and denies them even the most basic, lifesaving treatment. This isn’t up for debate. For Courtney, this was a means of survival.
Sensitive Medical Images Below of Courtney's Wounds. Viewer Discretion is Advised.
Accountability and Action
We Demand:
- Justice for Courtney and accountability for those responsible.
- Trans healthcare protections as a legal right, not a privilege.
- Immediate action from the California Attorney General and LA District Attorney.
- UC system policy changes to ensure this never happens again.
Join the Movement: Email us at info@californialgbtqhealth.org if you're interested in supporting legislation to end discrimination in healthcare settings.
Share Courtney’s story. Demand change. Help end medical discrimination.
