Hospital Visitation Rights

The rights of two people who love each other to make a legal commitment in the form of marriage vows may still be hotly debated in many places, but at least now hospitals can not deny visitation rights based on sexual orientation, gender identity. It may be only a step, but it is a very important one. 

On January 18, 2011, new hospital visitation regulations go into effect that require all hospitals participating in Medicaid and Medicare programs to permit patients to designate visitors of their choosing and prohibit discrimination in visitation based on a number of factors, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

http://www.legalout.com/tag/lgbt-estate-planning/

There has been a lot of talk about the healing power of love and the importance of being surrounded by supportive family and friends. Many have attributed congresswoman Giffords speedy recovery to the presence of loved ones. How could we ever have thought of denying that possibility to anyone? Finally, this law opens that door to the LBGT community.