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Gay Aussie mum shamed by midwife after labour

One mum has spoken of her horror and humiliation after she was verbally abused by a midwife for being gay, soon after welcoming her baby.

The Aussie mum shared her experience on Facebook, revealing she was at her most vulnerable after a grueling 17-hour labour to deliver her daughter, when the incident happened.

“A midwife made derogatory remarks to me because I am gay,” the woman revealed in her post. “She waited until I was alone and naked in the shower after a 17 hour labour before she attacked.

“She meant it with love.”

Sharing her story in support of the #TheyGetToVote awareness campaign, the woman then explains how the midwife initially had an issue with her leaving her baby with “a friend” while she went to shower.

The abuse was the last thing the mum expected after being in labour for 17 hours. Photo: Getty
The abuse was the last thing the mum expected after being in labour for 17 hours. Photo: Getty

When she explained the "friend" was actually her partner of 17 years, the midwife made her opinion of the couple’s relationship very clear.

"She said, 'You're disgusting for wanting to carry on this farce of two mums,’” the woman told Kidspot. "I was so shocked I said nothing. I was silent. I was literally at my most vulnerable."

The woman later filed a complaint against the midwife, and was told staff would undergo “ethics training”.

"I'm aware that many people have advocated punishment in instances such as this, but I really believe that the way forward is through acceptance, tolerance and social education," she told Be.

"Understanding the consequences for the people harmed is often times more effective in changing intolerance."

The mum shared her story in the hope of promoting understanding and acceptance. Photo: Getty
The mum shared her story in the hope of promoting understanding and acceptance. Photo: Getty

However, there's clearly a long way to go - with the woman bravely sharing the discrimination her family faces in their day to day life.

"I was sexually harassed and physically assaulted at work because I am gay," she wrote in her Facebook post.

“A doctor refused to see my toddler because her parents are gay. What about the kids?”

Going on to describe how “humiliating and dehumanising” it is for her relationship to be judged, she hopes speaking out about her experience will highlight how important the vote to legalise same sex marriage is.

“I struggle to come terms with the fact that people would actually vote to stop [my partner and I] from being each other's next of kin, from accessing our joint assets in the event that one of us dies,” she wrote.

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“That people would prevent me from planning the funeral of my wife or that they would put either of us in the position where we might have to fight to keep our children together in the only home they've ever known if one of us is dead.

“I can't even describe how it feels to know that my personal, intimate relationship is up for judgement by every adult I come across.

“I don't want pity. I don't want platitudes. I just want people to think clearly about what they're doing to actual people when they engage with this.”

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