‘Freeheld’ Wins Timely Oscar
February 25, 2008
Ever start to wonder about the importance of creating federally recognized legal protections for our families, domestic partnerships, civil unions, marriage no matter what form they come in? Janice Langbehn and Lisa Pond from Olympia Washington had been together for eighteen years and were on vacation with their three children in Florida when the horrific happened. The family was preparing for a cruise, Lisa collapsed and was taken to Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital. Not only did the hospital refuse to accept medical information from Lisa’s partner Janice but they also refused to allow her or the children visitation.
Even in death the family has not had peace or been recognized as valid, the State of Florida and the Dade County Medical Examiner have refused to provide a death certificate so that Janice can receive social security and life insurance to aid in the support of the couple’s three children.
Lambda Legal has providing assistance to Janice who intends to file a lawsuit for the discriminatory treatment she and her family received in their most difficult moment.
–Sassafras Lowrey
