dojR001845.xml

dojR001845.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-03-18

Monday, March 18, 2002 10:54 AM
Gay & Lesbian Heroes

To Whom It May Concern:

I've been told that the head of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund has made clear that the partners of gay and lesbian heroes of September 11 will not receive the same benefits as the spouses/partners of heterosexual victims of the horrible terror attacks. Even fetuses and illegal aliens will be receiving benefits under this program - you've even promised to overlook federal law and not arrest and kick out the families of illegal aliens, nor will you punish American companies that hired illegals in violation of federal labor laws.

But when it comes to gay and lesbian heroes of the day - who helped bring down the flight in Pennsylvania, who died in the line of duty when the first tower fell, and who was co-pilot of the plane that crashed into the (there are many more) - you say "the law is the law and no exceptions can be made."

If September 11 has taught us anything, it's that our patriotism and love of country transcend our differences and unite us all. We were told that September 11 was the day that "hyphenated-Americans" were no more, and rather than being Italian-Americans, African-Americans or gay-Americans, we were now simply Americans, all of us together as one American family. Apparently, that family just got a divorce.

The hyphens seem not to matter when our government wants to use our heroism to inspire others, but when it comes time to actually aid the families of those heroes, the hyphens come back with a vengeance, and it seems that some American heroes are now more equal than others.

I am outraged at this situation and implore you to correct it.

Individual Comment
Seattle, WA

2002-03-18