R000037
Monday, March 11, 2002 6:24 AM
Excluding gay and lesbian partners from benefits
To whom it may concern,
I have just learned that the 9-11 victim's compensation fund will ignore the partners of gay and lesbian victims of September 11 if the state in which they reside does not recognize their union. This is shameful, especially considering that gays and lesbians are among the heroes of September 11.
Kenneth Feinberg said on NBC's Meet the Press that he couldn't do anything that goes against state laws, but apparently that doesn't include illegal immigrants. Why make an exception there and then exclude gays and lesbians? Contrary to Mr. Feinberg's thinking, gay men and lesbians do have serious relationships and would marry if the laws of this country were not so backward and homophobic that they are not allowed to do so. Their pain (the surviving partner) is no less than the heterosexual partner of a victim, how can you make the distinction?
I might have thought that we learned something from September 11, that we have more in common as human beings than we have differences. Apparently, not everyone was listening. Change this ruling, it is unfair!!
Individual Comment