dojR000986.xml

dojR000986.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-03-16

Saturday, March 16, 2002 2:34 PM
copy

The following is an excerpt from a copy of my recent letter to Senator
McCain. I am not a Sept 11 surviving partner and I can receive no pecuniary
benefit. I am a veteran with service as both an enlisted man and an
officer. Please read:

Dear Senator McCain:

I read your glowing tribute to . It's clear that at the beginning of this war, you may very well owe your life to this young gay
man. I'm sure that this isn't the first time your life has been spared
because of the bravery of another American gay man, as many served in the
Vietnam conflict as well.

Unfortunately, your plea for recognition for isn't being respected by the people running the September 11 Victims' Compensation Fund.
Those people are going to pay money to unborn fetuses and illegal aliens
who survive the victims of the WTC attack and our government has even
promised not to deport those aliens nor prosecute employers who knowingly
violated the law. However, when it comes to paying benefits to surviving
gay partners the Fund overseers say that they must follow each State's laws
in determining whether or not the partner of a gay or lesbian victim should
receive compensation. They're just following the law to discriminate.

It's never been wrong for gay men and lesbians to die for America as
evidenced by our government's frequent STOP-LOSS orders during times when
uniformed personell are placed in Harm's Way. But during times of peace it
is officially "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" and unofficially it is clearly "GET
THE HELL OUT OF MY (ARMY, NAVY, CG, MARINES, AF)."

There is some indication that the Fund's organizers feel that benefits have
to go "for the children" and that's why gay men and lesbian partners can't
have benefits - and to get to that they are going to use State laws to stop
funds from being distributed therefore. There appears to be no analysis as
to whether or not the gay victims left children behind. Nor any
consideration of the fact that many tried to adopt but homophobia has left
their never adopted children in orphange facilities or state homes. In this
country, more respect was paid to men and women of color in 1855 than a gay
man or woman in the service of this country today. Gay men and lesbians are
far more reviled, even if they happen to be one who, like , saved you from many tons of flaming gasoline and saved our entire government
and ways of life on September 11.

Thank you so much for your moving lip service to . Perhaps if you meant it, you would follow up.

REMAINING TEXT OMITTED

Individual Comment

2002-03-16