R000939
Saturday, March 16, 2002 1:50 PM
A valued opinion
Victim's Compensation Board:
I belong to a gay list which updated me on your policy of discrimnation. I
was shocked to find out that monies are being withheld from the partners of
gay and lesbian victims of September 11th. I did NOT realize that their
lives were LESS IMPORTANT than other victim's families.
I believe that the right approach is to compensate ALL vicitm's families
regardless of sexual oreintation if the claim is a valid one. Equal
distribution of funds acknowleges that EVERY person who died had value
whether they were poor or rich, legal or illegal,american or foreign,
heterosexual or not. We have all suffered enough without further
degradations of this nature. IF I have to write to my congressman or even
the President of the United States, I will.
I was in New York City at the time of September 11th and I am a former New
Yorker who attended graduate school at New York University and worked in the
city. It will always be an integral part of who I am and I am not
embarrassed to proclaim my homosexuality. I DO NOT find it relevant in
assessing my self worth:I donated supplies,attended rallies, and volunteered
at Nino's serving professionals who were working at Ground Zero site. I
contriubuted as an AMERICAN first and that was how I was seen among the many
who volunteered their time.
Remember that during World War II, gay were disparaged and killed. They
still have not received compensation for their injuries and indiginities
they went through during the war. Are you equating the gay victim's families
the same way? History will NOT be kind to those who do.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment