A woman who took her same-sex partner to the hospital is being refused the right to visit her by a Catholic hospital in Indiana. Sarah Bray reportedly took her partner, whose name is being withheld, to Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis after finding her unconscious on the bathroom floor.
After admitting her, Bray, who is 34, called her partner’s mother. Upon arrival, the mother demanded the hospital remove Bray and their two children from the room.
“Bray said she hasn’t been allowed to see her partner since, claiming that the hospital Âsided with her partner’s mother’s wishes to keep her away,” the Indianapolis Star reports:
Bray said her partner’s mother does not support their relationship, which is why the mother didn’t want her in the room. When reached by phone Wednesday for comment, the patient’s mother said, “We’re not interested,†and hung up.
“She’s playing with the wrong person,†Bray said, “because I know that I have rights, and I’m going to fight for those rights no matter what.â€
In a memorandum, President Barack Obama made clear in 2010 that any hospital that accepts federal government financial payments — usually via Medicare or Medicaid — must allow same-sex partners the same visitation rights as heterosexual married spouses, regardless of their marital status and regardless of the state’s marriage laws.
“This is an outrage and a pefect example of one of the many reasons why we need same-sex marriage here in Indiana,” David Stevens, of GetEQUAL Indiana, told The New Civil Rights Movement today. “My question is, is this the new ‘softened tone’ from the Catholic Church?”
The couple had picked out wedding rings this week and are planning on marrying in Iowa next month, according to the Star.
UPDATE: Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis issued a statement complaining that “the current situation has been reported inaccurately in the news media and throughout social media. Contrary to the reports and social media comments, the significant other of the patient has been granted visitation with the patient regularly since her admission to Franciscan St. Francis.”
The New Civil Rights Movement has no ability to verify this statement.
And Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis adds this:
“During this difficult time, the family asks that their privacy be respected by the news media and the public.”
In other words, Sarah Bray, who is talking to the media every chance she can, is not part of “the family,” in the eyes of Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis.
Glad they cleared that up.