R001915
Monday, March 18, 2002 1:02 PM
Please don't discriminate - the terrorists didn't
In recent interviews, the head of the September 11 Victim
Compensation Fund has made clear that the partners of gay and
lesbian heroes of September 11 will not necessarily receive
the same benefits as the spouses of heterosexual victims of
the horrible terror attacks. DID THESE PEOPLE NOT SUFFER
THE SAME FATE ON THAT HORRIBLE DAY?
Even fetuses and illegal aliens will be receiving benefits
under this program.
But when it comes to gay and lesbian heroes of the day - who helped bring down the flight in Pennsylvania, . who died in the line of
duty when the first tower fell, and who was
of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon (there
are many more) - we are told the law is the law and no
exceptions can be made.
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.
Discrimination is un-American. I am outraged that gay and
lesbian partners of those who died on September 11 are not
automatically going to receive the same benefits as heterosexual
spouses.
FOR THE MEMORY OF:
And so many more...
Don't let their deaths be in vain. Show TRUE American spirit.
Tell the world that in America, Truly, we are ALL Equal.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Delaware