R002102
Tuesday, March 19, 2002 10:39 AM
Outrage
In recent interviews, the head of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund
(a fund created by Congress to help the families of those who died on
September 11) 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.
EVEN FETUSES AND ILLEGAL ALIENS WILL BE RECEIVING BENEFITS under this
problem - heck, they've even promised to overlook federal law and NOT arrest
and kick out the 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 in Pennsylvania,
who died in the line of duty when the first tower fell, and
who was
of the plane that crashed into the
(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.
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. Their families are no less valid and worth of support.
Individual Comment
Conifer, Colorado