R002050
Tuesday, March 19, 2002 8:57 AM
9/11 FUND UNFAIR TO GAYS!
To: Kenneth L.Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
Main Building, Room 3140
950 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20530
Mr. Zwick:
In relatively recent interviews, you, the head of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, has made it 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 those horrible attacks on the World Trade Centers.
Even fetuses and illegal aliens will be receiving benefits under this program and they have even promised to overlook federal law and NOT arrest and kick out families of illegal aliens, nor will they punish American companies that hired illegals in violation of federal labor laws.
But when it comes to gay and lesbian heroes of the day- who helped bring down the flight of Pennsylvania, NY Fire Dept. who died in the line of duty when the first tower fell, and the who was of the plane that crashed into the (and there are many more)- we are told the law is the law and no exceptions can be made.
If September 11th has taught us anything Mr.Zwick, it's that our patriotism and love of country transcend our differences and unite us all no matter what race, color,creed, or sexual orientation!!!! We shouldn't be labeled "Italian-American's, African-American's, or Gay-American's...we are just simply all American's, all of us together as one American Family!! Apparently, that family...,the Gay-American one, just got a divorce. The hypens 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 Americans heroes are now more equal than others.
My point being and what I am saying with the most objective point of view, that I am outraged that gay and lesbian partners of those who died on September 11th are not automatically going to receive the same benefits as heterosexual spouses. They should get the FULL AMOUNT DUE TO THEIR FAMILIES THAT ARE REMAINING!!!! Don't separate the American's who died from this terrible tradgedy into separated groups that you personally,politically or possibly hate due to yours and/or others that work for you, or by any other connection whose own personal sexual insecurities or whatever other possible reasons you are using to keep these gay-american families that are left from this tradgedy from receiving the full financial benefits!!! Don't let their deaths be in vain! If you have one ounce of Honor and Patriotism in your blood....let me be now! The tradgedy of this happening to our country was hard enough without people like you and others trying to cause dissension in Americans due to your our prejudices and dislike of others due to their sexual orientation or preference for the same sex. As Americans let us unite into one as we are stronger if we all unite! As a government...government needs to do the same so we as Americans can heal from this tradgedy...heal from this terrible ordeal in our lives and go forward!!
Again please don't let their lives die in vain!!!
Sincerely,
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