R002177
Tuesday, March 19, 2002 12:12 PM
9/11 Victim Compensation Fund
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. Once again, gays and lesbians are being treated as lesser
individuals, no longer equal in the eyes of the law.
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.
People like , and fought
all their lives against prejudice and bigotry as good, honest, and
law-abiding Americans who just happen to be gay (one small aspect of their
lives). These men, and others like them, gave the ultimate sacrifice of
their lives for their country, a country that continues to turn its back on
them.
Yet we will provide benefits to the families of illegal aliens even if they
are here illegally themselves. And this is justice in America.
I have been and always will be proud to be an American, however, I am
terribly dissapointed and saddened when the phrase "liberty, freedom and
justice for all" is still applied selectively.
Respectfully,
Individual Comment