R000272
Monday, March 11, 2002 5:47 PM
9/11 benefits for surviving gay partners
Dear Program Administrator:
I am outraged by September 11th Victim Compensation Fund head Kenneth
Feinberg's callous and on-going obfuscation regarding the unjust
dispersement of 911 Fund benefits: namely, that he "cannot" authorize
equitable benefits for the surviving gay partners of the 9/11 attacks.
Feinberg rationalizes this blatant discrimination because of state-by-state
discrepancies -- and, I might add, moral inadequacies -- in recognizing the
eligibility of gay partnerships. It has been pointed out, of course, that
the 911 Fund will distribute benefits to folks of any and all
heterosexually-based relation to victims of the terrorist attacks, even if
those people were deliberately violating federal laws in order to be in the
United States on that tragic day.
As a gay contributor to several relief funds connected to the September
11th attacks, I support the dispersement of these funds to everyone related
to a victim, whether or not their presence in this country was legal,
whether or not their partner was of the opposite sex. With all the careful
thought that has been devoted to aspects of security and justice in the
wake of September 11th (not to mention all the high-toned rhetoric that has
been scripted for President Bush's delivery), I certainly expect your
program to recognize that the gay and lesbian victims of these terrorist
acts -- most of whom were US citizens who, all along, paid the taxes that
have now provided you and Kenneth Feinberg with the governmental support to
do your jobs -- are equally deserving of recognition for their sacrifice.
Therefore, their surviving loved ones are every bit as deserving of
benefits. To proceed otherwise, you will dishonor the memory of and every other gay or lesbian hero of September 11th.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Glenford, OH