dojA000253.xml

dojA000253.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-12-01

Saturday, December 01, 2001 8:29 PM
re: compensation for G/L/B/T people lost on 9/11

Dear Reader:

I am writing to strongly state my support for compensation criteria and a process to ensure gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people who lost spouses and family members on September 11th be allowed equal and uninhibited access to the victims' compensation fund that has been established by Congress. We know gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender people lost their lives and lost loved ones on that day! Given the lack of federal and state statutes that protect the relationships of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people to the same extent as those of heterosexual people, it is urgent that considerations be provided for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people who also are victims--directly or indirectly--of the horrible acts committed on September 11th.

I have already read an article in the Boston Globe newspaper this week that noted that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people may experience difficulties and denial of access to these funds. As a lesbian taxpayer whose taxes have been used to establish this fund, I find this horrifying and unacceptable. These people have already suffered such tragedy, loss, and difficulty: to deny them access to the fund or to make it harder for them in any way to be eligible simply due to their sexual preference would add unnecessary and cruel insult to their situations.

I trust that the Department of Justice will do the "right thing" in this case and preserve equal access to the funds for all people, regardless of sexual preference. Discrimination of any kind is un-American, and, during these trying times, we must all support one another.

Thank you for your consideration of this message.

Individual Comment
Boston, MA

2001-12-01