R002138
Monday, March 18, 2002 4:22 PM
denial of funds to gays and lesbians
To Whom it May Concern,
I find it truly disheartening to discover that the partners of gays
and lesbians killed in the September 11th attacks will not be
eligible for relief funds. This is especially remarkable in light of
the fact that funds WILL be given to illegal aliens, and the Justice
Department has agreed to waive laws regarding their illegal status
for that purpose.
To maintain that individual state laws should rule on whether or not
someone should be equally recognized by your organization on one
hand, but that federal law should be suspended to help others is the
worst kind of flim-flam, and must be recognized as such. Gay and
lesbian Americans are no less deserving than any other American, and
certainly no less deserving than illegal immigrants.
I think it IS noble to take care of the illegals harmed by the events
of 9/11, and applaud your efforts to do so, BUT to pair that with
this disgraceful discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans is
the worst kind of parody of fairness, equity and patriotism.
When I give to help Americans hurt by 9/11, I expect those funds to
be used to help ALL Americans hurt by 9/11! Therefore, I for one will
discourage everyone I know from contributing to your efforts if those
efforts are to be discriminatory and biased, and will encourage my
friends and family to donate only to organizations that DO help all
Americans regardless or race, color, creed, religion, OR sexual
preference.
Please reconsider your plans. Honor the gay Americans who died so
valiantly on 9/11 as fully as you honor all the others who died that
day. Don't add more pain to the families of those gay and lesbian
Americans who died that day by dishonoring their memories with
discriminatory actions.
Do the right thing, as did the right thing when he
helped to bring down flight 93 saving who knows how many lives.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment