R001195
Saturday, March 16, 2002 7:26 PM
Compensate gay partners
I am appalled at the exclusion of partners of gay
and lesbians from 9/11 compensation by the government. This is simply
blatant discrimination. I do not object to the awarding of compensation to
families of illegal aliens, but there is certainly a flaw in your 'logic."
You say you will not violate state law by recognizing gay relationships if the
victim's state does not--but if you are simply following the law, how can you
compensate illegal aliens, people who are not here legally, who do not pay
taxes, who are in fact defined by their illegal status. Please understand, I am
not urging you to exclude illegal aliens, I am instead urging you to
exercise consistency, compassion, and justice, by compensating the partners and
nonbiological children of gay and lesbian victims of the terrorist
attacks. (I wonder if you have thought about the children in these
relationships. Many gays and lesbians are co-parenting but are not allowed
to adopt the children of their partners. Are these children excluded from
compensation as well?)
Gays and lesbians pay taxes, gave generously to
9/11 charities, and are equally devestated by the attacks. Gay and lesbian
partners hurt as much as straight families both emotionally and
financially. Please do not denigrate the memories and lives of gay and
lesbian victims and heroes of the attacks by forgetting their loved ones.
Maybe their relationships were not "legal" in the eyes of the law, but the
relationships were no less committed than those of married ccitizens and
illegal aliens.
Individual Comment