A physical therapy appointment is supposed to involve stretching, strengthening, and occasionally discovering a muscle you forgot existed. It probably shouldn’t involve overhearing staff allegedly turning anti-gay slurs into a comedy routine.
But that’s what a 20-year-old patient at Access Physical Therapy and Wellness in New York’s Hudson Valley says happened — and she secretly recorded the conversation.
The patient’s mother contacted News 12 after her daughter recorded a conversation during an appointment at the Chester, New York, facility on July 30. The 44-second recording captures voices in the background making and laughing at homophobic remarks.
And the material being exchanged wasn’t exactly rehabilitation-related.
One voice can be heard saying, “Literally every person I call fa**ot…”
Other comments include: “We used to say ‘you’re gay a s**t…” and “My favorite is ‘you’re gayer than AIDS.”
“That’s horrible!” another voice responds while others laugh.
Then someone apparently decided the conversation needed another punchline.
A voice can be heard asking, “What does gay stand for?” before responding, “Got AIDS yet?”
EXCLUSIVE: Access Physical Therapy and Wellness in Chester says it’s investigating an alleged incident of inappropriate and unprofessional conduct after a patient says she recorded anti-gay commentary involving staff and patients during an appointment last week. pic.twitter.com/turFWwr1JN
— Blaise Gomez (@BlaiseGomez12) August 6, 2026
For LGBTQ+ patients, hearing language like that in a healthcare environment can make an already vulnerable situation feel considerably worse. Nobody should have to wonder whether the people in the next treatment room are turning their identity into entertainment.
The patient recording raises questions about who was involved
The patient’s family says the conversation happened in an open treatment room involving two physical therapists and three other patients. However, News 12 noted that it is not clear from the recording who is actually making the comments.
The family also told News 12 that the appointment lasted about 10 minutes before they decided to leave. Their primary concerns, according to the station, were bringing attention to what happened and ensuring they would not be billed for the visit.
The mother and daughter declined an on-camera interview but gave News 12 permission to use the recording. Access Physical Therapy and Wellness says it is now investigating the allegations.
Access says discriminatory behavior isn’t tolerated
In a statement to News 12, Access Physical Therapy said it is taking the matter “very seriously.” The company said it is “promptly reviewing the matter and taking appropriate actions based on findings,” but declined to comment further because of patient confidentiality and personnel matters.
The company also said that conduct making anyone feel unsafe or unwelcome is inconsistent with its values and standard of care and that it “does not tolerate discriminatory or offensive behavior.” That seems particularly relevant in a healthcare setting, where patients are often already feeling vulnerable. Physical therapy can mean showing up injured, uncomfortable, frustrated, or dependent on someone else to help you regain mobility.
The last thing a patient should have to worry about is whether the people providing that care are comfortable using anti-gay slurs for laughs. The investigation will determine what happened, who made the comments, and whether disciplinary action follows.
For LGBTQ+ patients, though, the larger issue is hard to miss: healthcare should be a place where you can focus on getting better — not a place where you have to wonder whether the people treating you are making you the punchline.
Have you had a similar experience?