dojR002872.xml

dojR002872.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-04-01

Monday, April 01, 2002 2:52 PM
gay and lesbian victims


dear mr. feinberg,
i am trying to appreciate the incredibly sensitive position you hold regarding making such critical decisions as to how and to whom compensation for the victims of september 11 is granted.

i know you must be deluged with requests for specific kinds of considerations, formulae to use, etc. it is never easy being in the decision-making position, but particularly so when the decision involves both emotional and financial considerations.

it is with these understandings that i strongly urge you to reconsider your stance on inclusion (or, lack thereof) of compensation to survivors of gays and lesbians killed on 9/11.

you have stated that you will be guided by state laws, which we all know are inadequate at best in acknowledging gay and lesbian relationships, let alone legal protections and liberties (which are automatically accorded non-gay relationships). the Attorney General himself has indicated that illegal aliens who step forward as survivors of victims will not be pursued as a result of making such a claim. i applaud this position, but drawn out to its logical conclusions, the inherent message seems to be NOT to selectively apply the law (in this example, federal law) to only SOME of the survivors of victims of 9/11.

in reality, what do you think the likelihood is that you will be sued by a particular state for providing benefits to one of its citizens who happens to be gay or lesbian? i find this rationale an extremely weak base for such a significant decision.

as director of the benefit fund, it appears as though you have great discretion in making determinations about benefits distribution. i am confused by the limitation state laws regarding gays and lesbians, apparently presents you. the Attorney General's role modeling of expansive rather than limiting qualifications would seem a good one to follow. can you tell me why this is apparently not the case in relation to gay and lesbian survivors? has there been pressure from other constituents to make this so? if so, i urge you to take the high ground and make your determinations based on factual and individual information not political, religious or subjective 'moral' grounds.

death is death, grief is grief, survival is survival...regardless of the legal sanctions, definitions, protections or lack thereof. what should be guiding you is the 'right' thing to do, which as we know, is not always synonomous with the 'legal' thing to do. unknowlingly and indiscriminately, American citizens were drawn into an event that did not distinguish gender, race, age, nationality, sexual orientation...the benefit funds should not now be making such distinctions, and in fact, is not on all but one of those characteristics.

you have an opportunity first of all not only to provide equitable benefits to deserving survivors, but to send the message that i thought resonanted across this land on 9/11: the common values that bind and connect us are ultimately more powerful than those that divide us. let's make that so with these benefits as well.

respectfully yours,

Individual Comment

2002-04-01