R000959
Saturday, March 16, 2002 2:13 PM
I STRONGLY OBJECT TO YOUR POLICY re: GAYS AND LESBIANS
Director
9-11 Vicitims Compensation Fund
If September 11 has taught us anything, it's that our
patriotism and love of country transcend our differences and
unite us all. We were told that September 11 was the day
that "hyphenated-Americans" were no more, and rather than
being Italian-Americans, African-Americans or gay-Americans,
we were now simply Americans, all of us together as one
American family. Apparently, that family just got a divorce.
The hyphens seem not to matter when our government wants to
use our heroism to inspire others, but when it comes time to
actually aid the families of those heroes, the hyphens come
back with a vengeance, and it seems that some American heroes
are now more equal than others.
I consider it a moral outrage that the partners of gays and lesbians that
were vicitims of this horror will not be eligible for benefits just like all
of the other relatives and spouses. Many of these people were in long term
committed relationships. The fact that they could NOT make this
relationship legal has to do with archaic laws and views. Your abitrary
decision not to permit these people the same rights as others is a complete
injustice to a portion of the population.
Action must be taken immediately to ensure that gays and lesbians are treated
equally in your decisions.
Individual Comment
Stockton, CA