R000064
Monday, March 11, 2002 12:40 PM
American Heros and the 9/11 Fund
Dear Sirs;
Kenneth Feinberg's comments regarding compensation for the partners of
the Gay and Lesbian American Heros of 9/11 given on "Meet the Press"
yesterday, March 10th, reflect an attitude which is totally unacceptable.
These are just a FEW of the Americans who died as heros of that day, who were
also gay Americans. Are they less of a hero because they were gay? Are
their life partners suffering less because they were gay?
Members of our church in New York lost people that day. One
woman who walked down 60 + flights of stairs, burned so badly that no one
could touch her to give aid, who lingered in a medically incuded coma for
over a month, left behind a son and a life-partner of 20 years. Is that loss
to be in vain as our country honors the heros of this new war?
Members of that church who are policemen and firefighters worked around the
clock along side of their straight co-workers and of their gay fellow
policemen and firefighters. Have we not suffered the same as other Americans?
Mr. Feinberg said this: "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."
It is time that this administration demonstrated the same courage as the
previous administration, and to take a stand on the equality of ALL
AMERICANS, no matter how far behind the individual states may be on issues of
equality and justice.
When Allied forces liberated the camps of Germany and Poland almost 50 years
ago, when Mr Feinberg's relatives were set free, the gay and lesbian
prisoners were transfered to local jails and prisons. Don't let this sort of
gross injustice continue into the 21st Century. Bring American into line
with Denmark, Findland and other European nations ... take her out of the
camp of Saudi Arabia and other extremist muslim nations ... and extend
equality of treatment to American Gay and Lesbian citizens.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment