dojR000097.xml

dojR000097.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-03-11

Monday, March 11, 2002 4:19 PM
No compensation for domestic partners?


I am outraged, though sadly not surprised, that the September 11 Fund will not provide compensation to the survivors of gay victims of the terrorist attacks.

What of , a gay man, who was one of the heroes of United flight 93? And what of NY Fire Department , who was gay? What of the untold numbers of gay people who died alongside their straight colleagues in the most horrific event of our nation's recent past? Is the grief and need of their survivors somehow less significant than those of heterosexual victims?

According to the transcript from March 9's Meet the Press, Kenneth Feinberg has indicated that while fetuses and illegal immigrants will be eligible for benefits, domestic partners will not unless their state laws recognize the partnership. He is willing to bend the law for fetuses and illegal immigrants, but not for homosexuals. How petty. How small. How bigoted and how sad.

Patriotism, heroism, sorrow, anger, and need do not discriminate. Apparently the Justice Department does. One more reason to weep for our nation.

Individual Comment
Denver, CO

2002-03-11