dojR000077.xml

dojR000077.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-03-11

Monday, March 11, 2002 10:07 AM
Fwd: THE LIST: 9/11 Fund Screws Gays


As a gay American living abroad, I am shocked, angry, offended and
ashamed by my government's policy concerning compensation from the
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund to survivors of the gay and
lesbian victims of that disaster.

Your reliance on state law in determining eligibility is a cop-out
and indefensible. Your policy is a despicable example of blatant
homophobia.

"[Gays and lesbians are] left out of my program to the extent
that their own state doesn't include them. I cannot get into
a position in this program, which has a one-and-a-half or
two-year life start second-guessing what the state of New
York or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the state of
Virginia or New Jersey, how they treat same-sex partners,
domestic live-ins, etc. I simply say this: What does your
state law say about who is eligible? If your state law makes
you eligible, I will honor state law. If it doesn't, I go
with the state. Otherwise, Tim, I would find myself getting
sued in every state by people claiming that I'm not following
how the state distributes money. I can't get into that local
battle. I've got to rely on state law." - Kenneth Feinberg on
NBC's "Meet the Press," March 10, 2002.

Individual Comment
Brussels, Belgium

2002-03-11