A001501
Wednesday, December 12, 2001 10:28 AM
RE: Virginia's lack of compassion
I would like to ask the U.S. Government to follow the example already
set by New York Governor Pataki in granting compensation benefits "on a showing
of mutual interdependence with the victim, in recognition that anyone
who shared with the victim living expenses, day-to-day activities and
the emotional bonds of family deserves help in this time of need."
Discrimination of the type shown by state of Virginia in refusing
financial assistance to the lesbian woman whose partner died in the
September 11th attack on the Pentagon has NO PLACE in our society.
Period. The deceased lady was an employee at the Pentagon and therefore
her personal preference for a lifestyle partner were obviously accepted
(or of no consequence) by her employer. So why isn't the state of
Virginia honoring that employment "contract" by assisting the bereaved
partner with some sort of compensation benefit. One wonders if the state
of Virginia is seeking an opportunity to punish the bereaved partner for
having an alternative lifestyle? What a patently un-American and
unforgiveable thing to do. Sexual orientation or marital status has no
weight or value in matters of life or death. Witness the indiscriminate
acts of bravery by the firefighters on that fateful day. Did they stop
and ask "Are you lesbian or gay" before they started a rescue or offer
medical help. NO, they did not. So why is the state of Virginia not
correctly honoring its dead?
Individual Comment
Petersburg, VA