There are lots of ways LGBT people and families can feel the effects of not being fully recognized and respected, and not being able to access the rights others may enjoy in their pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...but remember, this blog focuses on the positive, right?  Well here's some news breaking right now that is all about the good.

President Obama just directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop policies for hospitals to allow LGBT people many of the same rights and responsibilities afforded already to other people and their families.   This health care memorandum specifically notes

• hospital visitation,
• medical decision-making,
• and other health care issues that affect LGBT patients and their families

as being in need of attention, and that a plan for these to be addressed should be developed within the next 6 months.

There have been many instances in which LGBT patients and their families did not receive this sort of respectful treatment.  Now there is a timeline in place for a plan to make sure in the future LGBT people are on more equal footing with other patients in healthcare settings. 

Learn more about how this positive change might impact LGBT people in this clip - and that although the hospital in this case would not offer an apology, that the President personally called Janice Langbehn to tell her of this memo and thank her for her courage.