R001898
Monday, March 18, 2002 12:42 PM
Discrimination in Compensation Funding
The passing of the buck to individual states in the matter of denying compensation to same-sex longtime companions and survivors of gays/lesbians who died in the attacks on 9/11 is nearly as unAmerican as the attacks themselves.
That states may individually uphold discriminatory policies {or legislate new ones to get around policies determined on a national level that just don't "agree with community standards", to wit: the editing of hate-crimes legislation in over ten states to remove the categories of sexual orientation} is something we have to live with.
But to take the position that the decedent's 'state of origin' shall decide if survivors and significant others are not entitled when on a national level violations of immigration laws are being winked at is offensive.
Gays and lesbians died in the attacks, too. Or lost loved ones. In the days following 9/11, gay dollars doubtless swelled donations for this fund and others.
The redemptive aspect of the horror of 9/11 is that for a time, people came together in unity and put aside barriers -- people reached out to one another openly and with great generosity of spirit.
To potentially deny the same compensation to gays and lesbians [who certainly number amongst the dead of 9/11 -- and among its list of heroes] is certainly an affront. Certainly to the loved ones of -- of US AIR flight 77, -- who died while administering the sacraments to NYFD firefighters at Ground Zero, and -- one of the heroes of Flight 93.
Our gay and lesbian tax dollars are certainly acceptable enough to the country as a source of income, but we consistently are ineligible for the very things taxes are levied to achieve.
I realize that the 9/11 fund is not a tax issue, but the principle obtains. To publicly acknowledge the grief of survivors is a tremendous and admirable thing. To publicly acknowledge the grief of some -- and to bend the law in the case of illegal aliens so they too will be compensated -- with monies from the Fund becomes a little suspect.
To publicly declare invalid the grief and loss of gays and lesbians -- unworthy of participation in the 9/11 Fund compensations because most states in the country don't consider their relationships real or valid -- this is shameful.
Though the distinction would probably be applauded by the Taliban.
Individual Comment