Hospital Visitation Bill

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Stephanie Hallisy, Darrel Waters, and J. Lindsay Flint gave their testimony to a Senate committee on March 21st about the hospital visitation bill.

Stephanie Hallisy, Darrel Waters, and J. Lindsay Flint gave their testimony to a Senate committee on March 21st about the hospital visitation bill. Waters talked both about the administrative burden of trying to "prove" his relationship to his partner; Hallisy about being denied the chance to be with her partner during a medical emergency, and Flint about her partner being denied access to the emergency room to be with her and their toddler son who was seriously ill.

Stephanie Hallisy of Rochester told the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee about a nurse preventing her from being with her severely ill partner in the emergency room.

Stephanie Hallisy of Rochester told the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee about a nurse preventing her from being with her severely ill partner in the emergency room after her partner had a severely inflammed lymph node after a cancer biopsy which made it hard for her to breathe. She watched her partner crying and being wheeled away and told the committee, "It was a horrible thing to have to endure that day. This shouldn't have to happen to anybody."

J. Lindsay Flint testifies about how her partner was barred from the emergency room area where Lindsay was tending to their very ill two-year-old son. 'I am scared because I know my son is very ill and not able to breathe. The last thing I want to be doing is justifying why we both had the right to be in this room.' OutFront Minnesota Executive Director Ann DeGroot looks on.

State Representative Tom Emmer tried to amend the legislation to delete the words "domestic partner" out of the legislation, a tactic used by our opponents to try to prevent legal recognition of our relationships. Fortunately the committee voted against Rep. Emmer's proposal and the legislation passed out of committee as originally written.

Hospital Visitation Bill

Status of Bill
The bill passed the Senate with a 43-21 vote on April 30th - to find out how your Senator voted click here. In the House, the bill awaits action on the floor.

This legislation would allow household members, which could include domestic partners, access to each other in the hospital, nursing homes and ambulances. Currently, there is no provision allowing domestic partners to visit each other unencumbered when one of them is hospitalized. This prevents GLBT couples and families from being at the side of their loved ones when they are needed most. This legislation would create basic fairness and treat GLBT couples and families with the dignity and humanity we deserve.

Contact your Minnesota Representative and tell them to vote for House File 1589. For a sample letter and background information, click here. Find your legislative district.

Text of Bill
House Version HF 1589
Senate Version SF 1398

Press Releases
Hospital Visitation and DP Benefits Advance / March 22nd

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