R000722
Thursday, March 14, 2002 7:22 AM
9-11 Benefit distribution
To Whom it May Concern (or not),
I would like to register my concern at Kenneth Feinberg's disclosure that the loved ones of gay and lesbian victims of the September 11 disaster will not not receive any benefits from the 9-11 fund. While I understand that some state laws may make it a bit complicated to distribute donations to survivors of gays and lesbians who were killed in the attack, I feel it is a grossly discriminatory gesture to indicate that those who lost their lives and those who loved them are somehow less entitled to financial compensation than those who are heterosexual and survivors who are illegal aliens.
As a contributor to that fund, I feel that ALL the survivors are entitled to compensation from the donation I sent. To deny that benefit to the families of gay and lesbian victims on the basis of state laws is a cop out. It sends a message that those lives lost are less valuable and not as important than the others - on the basis of their sexual orientation.
Here's a question: Were the celebrities who went on television and asked for donations aware that everyone would be compensated EXCEPT for the survivors of gay and lesbian victims? I believe if this had been publicized prior to the event, there would have been fewer celebrities asking for support and the tally would have been significantly less than the tens of millions of dollars that were raised.
I ask you to reconsider the exclusionary tactic of omitting the survivors of gay and lesbian victims of the September 11 tragedy. Consider validating the lives of ALL those whose lives were lost, despite the discriminatory laws of the state in which they happened to reside.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment