R000809
Thursday, March 14, 2002 10:19 PM
Exceptions to Compensation from the 9/11 Fund
It has been two full days since I received a notice describing the
discriminatory policies that have been established regarding rejection of
compensation to those who lost gay loved ones on 9/11.
It has been difficult to identify---much less gather---the right words to
express the bitter outrage felt over this double standard, established out of
bigotry and prejudcie so deep and profound that its very irrationality makes
it incomprehensible. We look back over the atrocities of history and shake
our heads in bewildered dismay at the injustices men have justified inflicted
on others, from the pratices of slavery in America to the Holocaust of World
War II. Yet, we refuse to learn from the past and remain blind to the
injustices that continue with impunity in our day. Thoughout its history, it
seems this country has always needed to set its sights upon a minority group
of which it will refuse acceptance or understanding: Jews, Irish-Catholics,
African-Americans, Hispanics, Japanese-Americans ...the list goes on and on
and continues to this day with our gay Americans. That someone is born gay
does not discount his or her basic humanity. It is high time that our
political officials moved past the blatant ignorance that justifies this
level of discrimination. The gay citizens of this country suffered no less
than others from the atrocities of 9/11. I personally spent sleepless nights
constantly watching the news coverage for days on end, too grief-stricken by
what I was witnessing to turn my face away. It never occurred to me to
question the background---religious, racial, political, sexual or
otherwise---of the people I grieved for. In the name of those gay men and
women who lost their lives on that dreadful day, for the sake of upholding
the belief that "united we stand," please right the wrong and change this
discriminatory and shameful policy.
Individual Comment