Gay state Rep. Frank Ferri (D-Warwick) intends to introduce an amendment to the bill which would strip away those exemptions. "I will need to establish support for it even before I introduce it," Ferri told EDGE. "I know there are many progressives and supporters in the house that will back me. We need to expose the facts and how absurd it is that a hospital could refuse to recognize the relationship of a couple who have a legal commitment. I am not sure they could refuse services because someone is gay, but they could refuse to recognize their partner to make medical decisions."