R001113
Saturday, March 16, 2002 5:00 PM
please consider all americans
Saturday, 16 March 2002
Dear Kenneth Feinberg,
I know you have disqualified many of the same-sex partners of the victims of September 11 from receiving any benefits that spouses, children, even fetuses and undocumented workers will get. Please seriously reconsider that policy you have declared.
It is hard enough that gays and lesbians are already denied rights such as marriage and adoption of children in many of our states. In this particular case, individuals have lost life long committed partners. Even though many of these partnerships aren't recognized by society, they are many times equivalent if not better than the traditional "marriage". A loss of a spouse/loved one is difficult enough. Denying these people what they deserve is an even greater blow. I realize you will take the cases on a state's law regarding this matter. However, I request that you go beyond that.
This fund is money that comes from U.S. citizens who are both gay and straight. Therefore, all victims and the ones they have left behind are entitled. You have even granted this privilege to those unborn and illegal to this country! Please look at this on a case by case basis. Heroes such as and should not be forgotten. Others are listed here: http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/uraniamanuscripts/sept11.html.
One possible solution is that your committee should look at the nature of the relationship: years living together, any property owned together and any children adopted by these individuals. They too, have to pick up their lives and continue to move on without the person they expected to live with for the rest of their lives. They must also now continue without, in some cases, the additional income to provide for housing and raise children. I implore you to reconsider your decision regarding compensation for surviving partners of the gay and lesbian victims of September 11, 2001.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
New York, N.Y.